Saturday marked varsity wrestling’s first tournament of the season. The team took first place at the Tokay high school invitational for the second year in a row.

“Our team is starting to become an actual program where Oakmont will be a high school that’s known [for wrestling],” junior team co-captain Ben Murphy said.

This year’s team features a balance of seasoned upperclassmen along with plenty of younger talent to compose the wrestling program. An early win gave the team assurance that their hard work and training in the off season was being met with results.

“We just work hard every day and try to improve every day,” sophomore Sean Myles said. “We’re always critiquing each other, like if someone doesn’t do something right we’re always there to help.”

The team has been putting in work at practice and conditioning in hopes that their determination shines through in tournaments. While individual accomplishments are recognizable throughout the sport of wrestling, these feats often stem from a strong support system.

For the Vikings, the camaraderie displayed throughout the program is what allows them to push past mental obstacles and perform their best physically.

“I think wrestling is more of a team sport than any because of what we go through… The cutting weight, and the hard practices, and the mental side of wrestling,” junior team co-captain Jake Stone said. “We have to stick together as a team to perform as individuals.”

Murphy, Stone, and senior team co-captain Joseph Mintmier are stepping into big leadership roles continuing after their championship win this past weekend. Moving forward in the season, the team has high hopes for their potential with their minds set on a title in the postseason.

“As a team we’re just looking to [continue to] win,” Murphy said. “Our ultimate team goal is to win league, which is the first tournament in postseason.”