The Saint Louis U. High wrestling team began practicing for the 2020-21 season two weeks ago, on Monday, Nov. 2. With a promising roster full of experienced upperclassmen, yet a season filled with new precautions and rule changes due to the coronavirus, it is going to be a unique, but no doubt, memorable year.

As COVID restrictions limited their typical on-campus summer and fall workouts, wrestlers were forced to adapt and make up for the lack of school-hosted conditioning, weight lifting, and drilling on their own.  

“We couldn’t really do a whole not in person (program) with our athletes in the off season.  But we really jumped in when the season officially started, just trying to get everybody back in shape from the extended break,” commented head coach Rob Nahlik.

While the season begins to pick up, as the first competition is now two weeks away, clear guidelines are expected to be followed in an effort to limit the spread of the virus while at practice. Wrestlers are asked to wear masks while not performing high-intensity drilling. Similar to the student body at SLUH, the room has also been divided into different cohorts, an attempt to prevent cross contamination between the two groups.

Looking towards December, when competition begins, buses will no longer be shuttling wrestlers between meets before and after school. A bigger change is the unlikely possibility that there will be any tournaments this year, limiting competition to mainly dual and tri-meets.

“Obviously it’s not going to be the same as years past. Regardless, I’m happy with where we’re at as a team and am really looking forward to meets beginning in a couple weeks,” said Nahlik.

Despite the variety of restrictions placed on the team, their practices, and future competitions, there is much anticipation and excitement for the senior-heavy lineup.

With seven seniors, including Bobby Conroy, who placed fourth at the state tournament last season, the team is looking to push more wrestlers through the district tournament. Aiming to top last year, when three wrestlers placed at the tournament, reaching the state tournament in Columbia, Mo. is a goal shared by all of the seniors.

However, while such long-term goals will be looming overhead, wrestlers and coaches are focused on smaller, short-term goals right now. Getting back in shape while relearning certain moves that faded over the off season, there is plenty of work to be done throughout the early stages of the season.

The team’s first meet is currently scheduled for Dec. 2, against Windsor and Oakville, two teams whom the Jr. Bills met frequently last season.

It will be a great opportunity for sophomore, junior, and senior wrestlers to get back to live competition.  Most have not faced an opponent since last February, with the conclusion of the 2019-’20 season, and are eager to show their improvement over the last eight months.

It will also provide a chance for freshman wrestlers to get a feel for the sport.  While their debut matches are certainly nerve wracking, it is best for them to view it as an opportunity to employ what they have drilled in practice and learn from the certain mistakes that will accompany any wrestling match.

When asked about the approaching matches, coach Espen Conley, a 2011 SLUH alum and two-time state placer, shared the excitement of the wrestlers and displayed his hope for the upcoming season.

“Last year, we really got the ball rolling with three qualifiers. They set a good example for this year’s team. Guys don’t have to place at state, they don’t have to win state, but as long as we’re sending wrestlers through districts and to the state tournament, we know the program is moving in the right direction.”

Aside from all goals, predictions, and speculation, one thing is for certain: the coronavirus will continue to twist the year further from a typical season while the SLUH wrestlers will respond with an attitude of resilience and perseverance, just appreciative of the opportunity to have a season at all.