Roberto Clemente Community Academy wrestlers, Antonio Nieves and Donnell Howery, competed in the Frosh/Soph tournament Saturday, January 14th at the Quest Center Multi-Sport complex. Antonio wrestles at the 138 pound weight class and started the day ready to compete. This is his first year wrestling and he has made the transition from a 9th grade student to a 9th grade student-athlete seamlessly. The season started back in November and Antonio, along with the rest of the team, has transformed, into a wrestler with many tools at the ready on the mat. Antonio practices hard and gets better everyday. “Antonio is one of the guys who does not mind a challenge and pushes himself day in and day out. He gets results,” said Coach Gavzer. Donnell Howery, Clemente’s 103 pounder, has only gotten faster in his stand up technique which helped him in getting out and away from his opponent’s control. One of Donnell’s highlights includes a technique called a snap down, making his opponent’s upper body go to the mat while he spins around to the opponent’s hips to secure a two point takedown.
Whether the match goes down to the mat or is about takedowns, the Clemente team comes prepared. Coach Tolene and Coach Gavzer have stuck to the basics, teaching single and double leg takedown, stand-ups, sit outs, far wrist half pinning combinations, and maintaining top position with claw rides and tight wastes. “This group of kids train together, laugh together, go through ups and downs together, and they make each other better wrestlers every time we practice. The season is coming to a close soon and seeing how far we have come, I have reason to look forward to the 2017-2018 wrestling season. Good luck to the my wrestlers in the coming matches,” said Coach Tolene. Clemente’s next wrestling competition will be at home hosting the Varsity City Tournament January 21st at 9:00am. Everyone is welcome to come out and sport our kids.