As the leaves start to turn and the winter breeze comes into the air, it is time to witness a form of sport that has been around since ancient Greece. Wrestling is a sport that has survived the test of time, and the upcoming season for the Maroons is finally upon us. There will be no chair-throwing, jumping off the ring, or LaVar Ball, but there will be action-packed feats of strength. The team starts out the season at the Trine Invitational at Trine University in Indiana. The Maroons are coming off a fairly successful season last year. The best result was current second-year Steve Bonsall finishing eighth in his weight class, at 157 pounds.

Last season, the Trine Invitational was very successful, with three Maroon rookies finishing within the top three in their respective weight classes. One was Bonsall, who, as a first-year, was UChicago wrestling’s first All-American team member since 2014. The team is hoping that he can replicate his successful debut season into an even more impressive second season. 

Overall, the team is focused and pumped for the upcoming season. John Jayne, a third-year, who also competed at the world junior championships for judo, is optimistic for the upcoming season. “I think the team has really been working hard in the recent weeks and I feel like there’s a really good atmosphere about the team. So I think we’ll be able to start the season off strong and have our hard work pay off,” Jayne said.

This positive outlook is vital for the team to get off to a successful start. One benefit of this year’s schedule versus last year’s schedule is that the Maroons do not have to face Northwestern to start off the year. Northwestern is an extremely difficult match, considering their DI status, compared to the DIII Maroons. Starting off with an invitational against fellow DIII teams creates an opportunity for the team to get off to a successful start for their upcoming season.