We either win or we learn. That’s Ethan Mitchell’s motto. He’s been coaching East Hampton wrestling for five years, and last week his team did both.
“After the weekend we had last week,” dropping all five matches at the Doc Fallot tournament, “it was great having some success, especially the newer guys,” Mitchell said. “This was definitely a better showcase of their abilities.”
The Bonackers easily defeated the West Babylon Eagles 58-16 on Dec. 17, in spite of East Hampton’s weight-class challenges.
This year, New York State Public High School Athletic Association rules require that boys have a minimum of 7 percent body fat to compete. That weight must be certified within 14 days of the start of the season. Athletes can’t wrestle within a weight classification more than one class above their actual weight.
They’re also prohibited from any kind of artificial heating or diuretics for quick weight reduction. “The new descent plan that they have us doing, it’s very science-based and it’s a lot healthier. It makes sure that people aren’t yo-yo-ing,” Mitchell said.
But it’s also a lot of work, and it’s preventing some athletes from competing. “It’s complicated. It’s a lot to manage, but it’s what’s best for the kids and helps them get where they need to go.”
Weight class was such a problem for both teams that the match opened with a double forfeit at 103 pounds, followed by a Bonac forfeit at 110 pounds. The Bonackers largely took over from there, however. Bronco Campsey, from Pierson, got a pin at 126 pounds, for 6 points, followed by a 5-point technical fall from Manuel Calle at 132 pounds.
“Manny did a great job getting after his offense once he felt the confidence. A big thing we’re working on with him is wrestling everyone like that, not just when he knows he’s going to win,” Mitchell said. “Same with Ryes Fida at 138. He was out last week. Fida being able to give his all there was awesome.”
Fida’s pin gave Bonac another 6 points to go up 17-11. Pierson’s Cyrus Halweil followed with another pin to put the Bonackers up 23-11.
“He trusted the process,” Mitchell said of Halweil. “Last week he was trying some more backyard wrestling and today he did some fundamentals and saw the right side of it, which was awesome.”
A tech from Aiden Gavilanes at 165 pounds, a pin from Orson O’Brien at 215, and four more forfeits and the night was over.
“There’s no losing in this sport,” Mitchell said at the end of the match. “There’s no losing with this team. We win or we learn and every time a hand’s not raised, it’s just exposing what we need to work on.”
