Winning is nothing new to McDaniel wrestling. The team finished on top of the PIL in their 2023-24 season, and it wouldn’t be crazy to predict they’ll be back. Varsity wrestling has retained many of their best athletes who are more than eager to prove themselves at state.
Last year the team sent ten of their twelve varsity wrestlers to state. This included then sophomores Isaiah Snyder and Lupine Reeves.
At the beginning of the season, Snyder was hoping for nothing but the best going into the upcoming season.
“Individually my hopes for the season is to go undefeated and become the first McDaniel state champion,” Snyder said. “I hope our team can become district champions for the second year in a row, maybe get our team a little higher on the state leaderboard.”
The team did take districts and has numerous folks going to the state tournament.
Reeves expressed a similarly optimistic outlook. He, much like Snyder, wished nothing but the best for the 24-25 season.
“My hope is to be the hardest worker on the team, put in the most effort, work harder than anybody on the team, be better than anyone,” Reeves said.
Unfortunately for Reeves and Snyder both their seasons were cut short due to injuries.
Reeves attributes a part of the team’s success to their continuous year-round training, which keeps them permanently ready for the season.
“The offseason means a lot because we all still come in during our off time, so we all still see each other all the time,” Reeves said.
Among the wrestlers, some are sure to have an electric season, Snyder and Reeves shout out a few.
“Some people to look out for are me, Isaiah Snyder. So be on the lookout,” Snyder said.
Additionally Reeves acknowledges a few of his senior teammates.
“Don’t miss Ahmeil Keys [the] returning district champion, and Ethan Holstein was injured and he’s coming back this season,” Reeves said.
Keys and Holstein went on to win districts at Lincoln on Feb. 15.
Both Snyder and Reeves have been wrestling since their freshman year, and they don’t plan to stop. Snyder sights the community of the team as a constant motivator and drawing force.
“It’s a little cliche, but it truly is like a family,” Snyder said. “Our coach cares on a deeper level, he cares more than wrestling.”
Coach Cale Holt reaffirms the value of wrestling, stating the lessons his athletes learn which they can carry on to their personal lives.
“They learn how to be accountable, how to respect your elders in a way,” Holt said. “In general they learn to do what they need to do in terms of being good citizens.”
This is a message the team is sure to hold close as they fight to return to the top.
You can catch the Mountain Lion’s next unmissable match in late February in Sandy: the boys on Feb. 21 and the girls on Saturday, Mar. 1.
