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From doing cradles — grabbing the back of the triceps and knees of the opponents — to performing half nelsons, the wrestling season has come to an end.
On Feb. 27, the Cardinals placed second in the AAA All-City Wrestling Championship, a heartfelt improvement compared to last year’s fourth place finish. Although they have had their share of upsets and comebacks in the match, 11 of the 13 Lowell competitors placed in the top four in the AAA All-City Wrestling Championships. "I think we did fantastic. We met all of the coaches' goals and I'm really proud of the team," senior Tenavi Nakamura Zimmerer said.
Freshman Lorenzo Pesino, who placed third in the All-City Finals, found a focus that allowed for his success. "I thought about what I was going to do on the mat and I pictured myself pinning the other person," he said.
Three Cardinal wrestlers, seniors Daniel Sorkin, Aris Chalini and Sam Berry, took first place and went on to the State Finals in Bakersfield on the weekend of March 4. The three seniors did not place, but it proved to be a valuable experience for the graduating wrestlers. “It was exciting to see how far I’ve come after four years of hard work,” Berry said.
Another change to the team this year was assistant coach Colin Ikeda’s transition to head coach. He will continue to work with former head coach and current assistant coach Denise Lee, who kept the team together for the past six years and set the bar for Lowell wrestling legacy. Lee currently applies herself in a part time position as a physical therapist, but still thinks of her team. "I certainly do miss practicing and watching the kids mature between practices and tournaments," Lee said. "However, I am also grateful that I have the opportunity to still be in the corner coaching."
As for head coach Ikeda, his transition to a higher position also means more responsibility. "I have a lot more administrative responsibilities to do," Ikeda said. "I was trying to focus more on morale and grades."
With her years of experience as a wrestling coach, Lee views wrestling as a hidden treasure that people should not overlook. "Wrestling is an amazing sport," Lee said. "It's an individual sport as well as a team sport."
MVP:
The Lowell’s choice for MVP is senior captain Daniel Sorkin. "He's a great captain, gives good advice, and he's raw," Pesino said.
Sorkin placed first in the AAA All City Finals and maintained a perfect AAA season. "He's been working really hard for a long time and it's really paid off," Nakamura-Zimmerer said.
This was Sorkin's last season as a wrestler since he does not plan to continue a career as a wrestler in college. "It’s too hard," Sorkin said. However, Sorkin leaves a message for his fellow teammates for next season. "Keep fighting until the end," Sorkin said.
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