By Ben Black

   The Ponte Vedra High School boys wrestling team is gearing up for another exciting season. After ending last season as district runner ups in both the individual and dual formats, as well as sending multiple wrestlers to the regional and state matches, the coaches and players alike are looking forward to another successful year.

  According to Coach Josean Gonzalez, the head coach of the team, there are currently sixteen wrestlers on the team, with six of them returning from last season. “I’m really excited to see how the team develops throughout the season. We have lots of first year wrestlers,” he says. At three and a half months long, wrestling has a longer season compared to some other high school sports, giving athletes a unique chance to develop, even if they have never participated in the sport before.

   Assistant Coach Richie Rizzuto is a division one collegiate wrestler coaching during a gap year that he is taking to nurse an injured shoulder back to health. He hopes to help the program this year by helping wrestlers achieve their personal goals. “I’m most excited to see how much the work in practice pays off when we wrestle against other schools,” he says. 

  “I’m most excited to see how much the work in practice pays off when we wrestle against other schools.”

Richie Rizzuto

   Grady Dolan, a PVHS junior who is serving as a team captain this season, has high expectations for his team this season. He personally hopes to win at districts and make a run at states, and hopes the team can win the 2022 District Duals event. 

   The Sharks boys wrestling team has their first match against Creekside on December 1st, kicking off what is sure to be an exciting season.