As the mats roll out and the whistle blows, Morton East wrestlers are gearing up for a season full of intensity, determination, and the pursuit of victory.
According to Google AI, wrestling is one of the oldest and most demanding sports, requiring a combination of strength, technique, discipline, and mental toughness. Athletes compete in weight classes to ensure fairness, and matches are scored through takedowns, escapes, reversals, near falls, or by winning with a pin. A season includes dual meets against other schools and large tournaments where wrestlers advance through brackets to earn team points and qualify for higher-level competitions. Practices are known for their intensity, blending drills, live wrestling, and conditioning that builds stamina and resilience. Wrestlers wear specialized gear—such as singlets, headgear, and wrestling shoes—and are expected to maintain proper weight and technique. Beyond physical ability, wrestling teaches responsibility, confidence, and the importance of hard work, making it a sport that shapes both character and athletic skills.
“All quotes need to be attributed and punctuated correctly,” said Assistant Coach Dan Levy.
“This season has pushed us, but our wrestlers continue to grow and respond to every challenge. Our overall record is 2–7 and 1–1 in conference, and in the last two weeks we’ve faced some very strong teams. Still, we’ve had standout performances—especially from Nico Jaramillo at 126 pounds and Santiago Moya at 175, who both beat past state qualifiers. A lot of our athletes put in serious offseason work, and it’s showing in their development and confidence on the mat. Our main goal is to peak at the right time for the IHSA State Series and qualify all 14 wrestlers to the sectional tournament. This week we’re on the road at Leyden, then back home against Riverside Brookfield, and on Saturday every level—Varsity, JV1, JV2, and Freshman—will be competing at different tournaments. It’s wrestling season, and that means working hard, staying disciplined, and using both our physical and mental skills to reach the goals we’ve set on and off the mat,” said Dan Levy, assistant coach.
“I joined wrestling because my brother encouraged me to do it, and what keeps me committed is the drive to get better, knowing that the hard work pays off. Something that wrestling has taught me is to stay consistent and be hardworking, even when you have days where you don’t want to get up from bed. You have to keep on pushing to achieve greatness,” said Sergio Garcia, varsity player.
Students involved in the sport discussed what responsibilities the managers have.
“My main responsibilities as a manager are supporting the coaches and wrestlers both in practice and at meets. Mostly our day-to-day responsibilities include scoring, signing people in, and making sure everything is in order for our next match. But as wrestling manager, I enjoy making connections with the other managers, coaches, and wrestlers. Also, that extra level of responsibility really keeps us busy, which I also enjoy,” said Melisa Salgado, manager.
