In its first year at Loyola, the Loyola Wrestling team won the Mission League, and its captain, Peter Schwab ‘27, advanced to the CIF Southern Section Championship and placed third. After being asked about how he felt to have been the captain of the first-ever wrestling team at Loyola High School, Schwab said “I was super honored to be a part of it and extremely honored to be the captain of it… It was just a great community and a great experience for the first year.”
Although he had prior experience in wrestling, Schwab was given the crucial task of leading the rest of the team, many of whom were attempting wrestling for the first time. The team strategized and was able to fill every weight class with at least one athlete, which was an important step in setting the foundations for the successful season.
There were some doubts and speculation because the team didn’t compete in the first two weeks of the season, but as the team progressed through the season, it started to pick up momentum as a whole. With the many matches won throughout the season, as well as one third-place finish in the Mission League by freshman Evander Martinez, the season finished as a success.
When asked about the culture of the team taking roots in its first year, Schwab recollected that, “The environment is really, really good. The coaches emphasize being a good teammate and a good competitor.”
To Schwab, this new program is a chance for prospective wrestlers to find a new passion while also learning how to act with exceptional sportsmanship, both in practice and during matches.
At the end of his interview, Schwab was asked what he hoped members of the first-year team would have said about the new program after the season had ended: “This is most guys’ first ever experience wrestling … I hope they say it was just a really great experience, that it helped them form who they are today, and that they are really proud and honored to be a part of the first-year wrestling team.”
Overall, this season’s success offers hope for the future of the wrestling program at Loyola. In next year’s season, the team will look to build upon this strong foundation as this year’s beginners return to the mat with valuable experience and confidence. With its culture of sportsmanship and hard work, the program is well on its way to leaving a lasting legacy at Loyola.
