Offseason practice is something all sports have, the difference is how the individual sports use that time. For the Mater Dei Wrestling Team, the offseason involves weight lifting, building up fitness, and sharpening techniques. These months of preparation help the team get ready to take on others in competition. Wrestling Coach Luis Renteria explains how learning the skills are important in saving time when the season starts. 

“[In] the off-season, we need to work on our craft, technique, and we have to get in shape so during the season we don’t have to spend a lot of time on [this process],” Renteria said. “At least they have an idea of what we need to work on during the season so we can taper the time.”

Building their fitness level is the coach’s main priority during this period. Focusing on exercise to build agility and coordinate their bodies, especially falling technique for newcomers is crucial to a successful season. Another element of training incorporated is “open mat”, the time for wrestlers to jump in and participate in practice matches.

“Open mat means that we invite a few schools from around the area,” Renteria said. “They show up on Saturdays, we wrestle, live like matches, [and] try to get at least 10 matches.”

Junior Monica Gomez says the difference between the on and offseason is the focus on conditioning and technique, which helps them to prepare for the highly-concentrated upcoming season.

“Offseason, it’s more focused on technique, like how to do the moves,” Aaron said. “[It] trains me to continuously work hard, even if it’s a small practice, to keep on going hard if I have off days.”

The offseason is when new athletes try out for their sport of choice. This means that in the wrestling room, many new wrestlers require training.

“99.9% of the kids that we have come in as fresh student athletes,” Renteria said. “They say, ‘You know what? I want to try out here,’ [and] we help prepare them.”

Beyond the technique, conditioning, and continuous dedication to the sport, Renteria hopes his students to grow in faith and as a person in wrestling.

“You gotta have faith in yourself, your teammates, [and] your teachers,” Renteria said. “That’s the thing I never had [when I was younger], that faith. That’s what I try to [instill] into the kids.”

The team views this installment of faith and confidence as a key part of their success and one of the attributes that make Renteria a great coach. Renteria’s style of coaching is what junior Arron Gonzalez finds extremely helpful.

“Every time we’re down on ourselves and lack confidence, he always tries to push us,” Gonzalez said. “He always believes in us [and] I feel like that’s just something that every athlete needs.” 

Renteria hopes that the confidence the wrestling team gets during the off-season will carry them into the season and see it pay off in victories.  

“It’s a process, especially when you see a kid that never wins a match, and all of a sudden at the end, just starts winning,” Renteria said. “That’s what we look for at the end, they get more confidence [with] all the work that they put in and get the win.”