Redwood High School’s wrestling program led by Coach David Watts demands significant dedication from both coaches and athletes.
By: Abigail Zapata
David Watts, head wrestling coach for Redwood High School’s wrestling program and physical education teacher makes many sacrifices during the year so that he can make sure that his students are able to execute on the mat to their full potential.
Watts said “We give up almost all of our weekends all year so that the kids can go to tournaments, and we basically do practice everyday, all year; we’re giving up that family time to make sure our wrestlers get what they need to get better.”
Watts’ most memorable moment in his wrestling career was whenever he coached his kid in state finals. Watts says “Just being in the state finals and being able to coach him there, it was a good feeling. Losing wasn’t good, but just getting and knowing the hard work that we did to get there.”
Jordan Maldonado, ‘29 understands the dedication it takes to wrestle all year round and knows that consistency is very important to be successful. Maldonado says “It’s student before the athlete, and it’s all about concentration.”
Maldonado mentioned that he has the same mentality going into his matches and completing his tasks in the classroom. He said “Go out there, have fun, beat the crap out of your opponent, then take that same energy and use it in class.”
Maldonado also said how his peers are very helpful towards him in keeping his spirits up and help him stay confident.
He says “They help me with my mental status. My coach told me one time that it will be all worth it when we’re winning. They all help me and support me during my matches, they cheer me on and that’s what gives me the motivation to win my matches.”
Gabrielle Caro, ‘27, is really big when it comes to putting herself first during the off season because of how challenging the sport can be.
Caro says “Being careful with what you eat obviously to make weight, giving up a bunch of free time, being a little bit selfish and putting yourself first because this sport is very demanding.”
Caro is constantly being pushed to be the best that she can be, however she believes that it is beneficial for her.
She says “It pushes me to my limits, but in a good way. It makes me stronger mentally and physically, it gives me a lot of challenges that I have to overcome in a good way, and it just makes me stronger all the way around.”
Caro believes that despite wrestling’s ups and downs, it is still such a rewarding sport and the people she surrounds herself with are even better.
Caro says “It’s not always gonna be easy, there’s a lot of ups and downs but in the end it’s all worth it. Even though there might be some days when you get out of practice and think, this sport is so hard; it’s not a walk in the park, but it is a very rewarding sport.”
Jude Baker, ‘27, thinks that wrestling can not only be beneficial for just keeping him physically fit, but also help his time management skills for his future. He says “Going forward, when I get a job, I will be able to manage my time with homework and all that stuff.”
Ways Baker overcomes burnout is by mentally fighting his own negative thoughts. Baker said “Burnout is really just a mindset. You’re always gonna get burnt out a little bit but you just gotta power through it; burnout isn’t really real.”
Wrestling has truly changed Baker, however it was all for the better to make him stronger and more responsible as an individual. Baker says “It’s definitely made me a lot tougher especially mentally, I am dedicated to things and show up to things on time.”
Enrique Segura, ‘26, truly believes that wrestling is a sport that enforces an athlete’s discipline and time management skills.
Segura said, “There’s a lot of adversity you go through in training alone, it’s just very hard and I feel like that applies to your time management skills because you have to find that balance in your training.”
With all this time Segura spends wrestling, he knows that the mental aspect of the sport can be a positive thing, and it can also be a negative thing.
Segura says “Wrestling is probably one of the most demanding sports ever created; its a team sport but in all reality its individual, you step on the mat and it’s just you and the other guy, and that could really beat yourself up depending if you win or not.”
The dedication it takes to be a high level wrestler is truly something else, but Segura says that he and his peers were made to do all this stuff.
“It’s a lot for a high school student to go through; we got some guys cutting weight, you know, 10 lbs a week.” said Segura. “And it does suck for a 16 year old to be going through that but you gotta realize to, we’re built for this and we’re different animals.”
Abigail Zapata
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