Samo wrestling ready to pin their competition in this winter season
The Samo co-ed wrestling team has begun their long anticipated season, currently standing evenly with three dual-meet wins and losses against their rivals in Bay League and two tournament placements. Led by Coach Jason Mun, boys team captains Raden Madley (’25) and Frederick Ekberg (’25) and girls team captain Maia Baker (’25), the team is confident that this season will be a success for the program.
In the season prior, many of the varsity wrestlers received season ending injuries that significantly affected the performance of the team which had in past years, received very high places in competition with their Bay League rivals.
Arata Sakamoto (‘26) breaking down a South Torrance wrestler.
Mun is convinced that due to the numerous seniors providing leadership, that this season could be much different.
“Okay, so last year, we didn't have that many seniors. We only graduated, like four kids,” Mun said. “What's cool about this team is, aside from like three starters in the lineup, the rest of the team came back.”
Mun went on to explain the positive impact he is seeing these seniors and specifically his team captains, are having on younger wrestlers in the room.
“It's been helpful. They're good kids on and off the mat. They're getting good grades. They're good with the younger kids setting a good example. They work hard,” Mun said. “They're the ones [the captains] that are going to be leading the warm ups at tournaments and making sure that everyone is warmed up properly in the evening and that sort of thing.”
In addition to this solid leadership, Baker, the girls team captain, also pointed out the community spirit and work of her fellow athletes that is helping shape the team to improve ever further this season.
“We have a lot of really dedicated members of the team. The community is really strong. Everyone's so friendly with each other,” Baker said. “I think that, like in terms of how strong we are in wrestling, I think that our varsity team will do really well.”
Wrestling, though a group with a successful record at Samo, having placed countless students into the CIF playoffs, is an obscure sport to many students. Mun believes that if students would take some time to see the team in action, they would really appreciate the sport and could even possibly be inspired to join the program.
“When students hear the word wrestling, they don't really know what it is. I think a lot of them, while they may not necessarily understand the rules, they would realize it's pretty exciting. It's two young men or two young women, basically in a controlled fight and it's as close as you're gonna get to like a combat sport and in high school athletics,” Mun said. “Especially for the younger kids, hopefully they like it and they become interested and maybe they will try it.”
The wrestling team will have its first on campus dual-meet against Peninsula High School on Jan. 9th at 3:30. The team also holds a club open to elementary and high school students every Monday and Wednesday at 4:30 in the wrestling room.