Wrestling begins rebuild with formidable young squad

Sophomore Griffin King holds steady with Saucon Valley High School opponent.

On the heels of a disappointing 8–12 2022-2023 season plagued with injuries, the Southern Lehigh wrestling team needed an upgrade to their roster, which suffered from the loss of several valuable 2023 graduates. Fortunately, that upgrade came with the arrival of a strong freshman class looking to cement their places as cornerstones of the team.

“I feel confident with the team we have this year; a lot of them are really into the sport, and a lot of them are [coming up from middle school],” head coach Mr. Brenton Ditchcreek said. “It’s going to be a very interesting year, especially when they peak out.”

Last season, numerous injuries created a lack of optimism among team members. This year, in addition to a current 9–9 record as of January 25, 2024, their outlook on the future is significantly more favorable. Their shift in attitude is a product of the team’s young nature and focus on bonding and developing relationships.

“I think the team is starting to grow, [and] we’re getting some team bonding stuff in,” sophomore Sean Steckert said. “We’re trying to bond together and create a team for years to come.”

Part of their bonding emphasizes supporting each other on and off the mat. Every wrestler knows the value of working hard in practice and supporting their teammates in challenging match scenarios.

“Even though it is an individual sport, you are always pushing each other and that’s really helpful,” senior Scott Stevens said.

Given the graduation of seniors Braedon Alder and Michael Fluck at the end of the 2022-2023 school year, the team had two holes in their roster that needed filling. However, they may have found their replacements thanks to the arrival of freshmen Keith Barker and Brock Frable. Barker currently boasts a 27–5 record and started his high school career on a 13-match winning streak, while Frable holds a 19–5 record. Meanwhile, other freshmen have shown promising potential to be great.

“[Frable], [Barker], and the freshman have got great records so far,” Steckert said. “[They’re] helping fill out the spots, [and] they’re bringing up new moves we haven’t learned yet.”

On the surface, wrestling is a battle of strength in which the most potent competitor always comes out on top. However, mental fortitude may be the most necessary trait in their sport. Thanks to their shared desire to win and love for the sport, Southern Lehigh wrestlers always seek the best outcome when they step on the mat.

“The most important quality to have as a wrestler is the mental ability to break through any challenge ahead of you, and it’s definitely a challenge to be on the mat,” Stevens said.

About the Contributor

Kishore Annambhotla, Editor-in-Chief

Senior Kishore Annambhotla has dedicated four years to Southern Lehigh High School’s Spotlight newspaper. Three of those years he spent in editorial positions, as Our World and Entertainment editor his sophomore year and editor-in-chief his junior and senior years. He feels these positions have helped him inspire his peers and impact his school for the better. “The clubs I've been a part of have taught me how to engage with the community and work with others,” he said. “I think that the teamwork and collaboration that comes with being part of the Spotlight will be very useful in my future.” As of now, he will be living out the next few years of that future as a student at the University of Pittsburgh, where he will major in Computer Science. Because AP Computer Science A was one of his favorite classes in high school, he is excited to delve deeper into that area of study in college. “I’m not yet sure what I want to do with that diploma, but I know it will take me far,” he said. Regardless, he knows that he plans to live in a small apartment in New York City, since he appreciates a relaxed lifestyle. “It’s comfortable to keep few possessions and be worldly,” he said. Annambhotla plans to use skills learned from his activities outside of the Spotlight as well. Most notably, he has learned leadership as president of the high school’s National Honors Society this past 2023-2024 school year, a position in which he helped manage the organization’s tutoring program. He also dedicated himself to Scholastic Scrimmage, representing the school in academic competitions requiring a wide range of knowledge. His three years on the school’s tennis team taught him teamwork, and he worked to better his school and community by participating in No Place For Hate and Key Club. But, out of all of these experiences, he feels that his favorite memories were formed through the Spotlight, specifically by collaborating with peers as the club worked to publish its work. “I fondly recall working on the newspaper in the publication lab with the editorial staff,” he said. “It was always a good space to decompress.” Of everything that he himself wrote, Annambhotla is the most proud of an Opinion article he published during his junior year, titled “Antisemitism rhetoric must come to an end.” Written in response to the rise of antisemitic comments on social media and in mass culture, he gave Southern Lehigh students a chance to voice their thoughts on the issue. “This was my favorite article because I felt it was the most socially impactful article I wrote,” he said, “so it carried more meaning for me.” Annambhotla’s advice for current students—a lesson he himself learned through juggling extracurriculars, classes, and leadership positions in each—is to remain focused and ambitious. With that sort of mindset, he feels you can achieve anything. “It’s gonna get challenging along the way,” he said, “but you should always remember what you’re working towards and keep your goals in front of you.”

The Spotlight

The Spotlight

The Spotlight

Wrestling begins rebuild with formidable young squad