Rochester wrestlers looking for for first long tournament trip
BY AARON KUHN
STUDENT CORRESPONDENT
aaronkuhn14@yahoo.com
ROCHESTER HILLS — Senior Jameson Joyce sizes up his opponent, trying to figure out how to get a pin, and a victory for the wrestling team. Then, after contemplating his next move, he goes in for a shot, an attack on the legs just as his opponent sprawls, pulling down his legs as fast and hard as possible.
Seconds after, Joyce feels a pain in his right knee and finds out later he tore his right knee meniscus and would miss the rest of his junior year.
“My biggest improvement has been on top,” Joyce said. “And I had to relearn everything again and I feel like it’s coming back to me pretty well.”
According to Rochester wrestling head coach Frank Lafferty, working together is necessary for the team to be successful this season.
“We’ve been mostly working on team unity,” coach Lafferty said. “Wrestling is an individual sport but we feel the kids wrestle better when they wrestle like a team. If the whole team is better, the individual is better.”
Though many players have high expectations, sophomore James Wood is an exception.
“I was second in states last year and I hope to do better than that,” Wood said. “This year I have got a lot better and been practicing more than last year. Also, my technique on moves and on take downs has gotten better.”
As a team, state finals are a goal as well.
“Obviously we’d like to be in the state finals,” coach Lafferty said. “That is every coach’s goal. I don’t know what we’ll do, but it’s better to have a lofty goal then a lower goal. This team has a lot of potential. Will we do it? I don’t know, but that’s our goal.”
Joyce wants to go to states as well.
“My goals are pretty high … I want to go to states. It’s just a really big benchmark that sets you apart from everyone else,” Joyce said. “And once you’re all state, you’re an all-state wrestler for life and no one can take that away from you. “
Coach Lafferty says that hard work will allow the team to reach their goals.
“They’re just like every other kid in America, but they work hard,” coach Lafferty said. “I could list every player on the team [that has potential and works hard]. We can win a competition a lot of different ways. We’re not like football that has a quarterback and a wide receiver star. It’s a team effort.”
As for Joyce, even if he doesn’t make states, he’ll feel successful as long as he helps the team.
“If I help the team a lot and get many pins and wins I’d consider that a success,” Joyce said. “We’re going to have a really good team this year, a lot of kids are focused, they know what they want to do and I’m glad to be back.”
(Aaron Kuhn is a junior at Rochester High School and a staff writer for the school newspaper, The Talon.)
Category: Rochester
