With a score 202.5 the Manhattan High Wrestling team came in full force placing first at the Hays two-day tournament on Jan. 19 and 20. Nine made the podium: freshmen Cameron Coonrod and Caeleb Hutchinson, sophomores Dalton Devin, Landon Dobson and Logan Lagerman, juniors Jameal Agnew, Clayton Frehn and Isaac Sinks, and senior Jaxon Vikander. 

Sinks said this season’s success is a continuation of something that has been important to him for a long time. 

“It’s been a huge part of my life,” Sinks said. “I’ve been doing it for 11 years, it’s a lot more than just a sport and a team, we’re a family…it’s really something special.”

Frehn said the thing that makes it enjoyable for him is that it’s a one-on-one sport. 

“Whoever wins it’s not because they got other teammates that help them through it,” Frehn said. “It’s me versus you. However this ends is because I’m better at this sport and I have more heart and I fought harder to get there.” 

Even though being a student-athlete seems challenging, for the wrestlers the end game is much more rewarding. 

For Lagerman, Head Football Coach Joe Schartz’s “hard work works” is something he strives to keep consistent. Lagerman personally also lives by something his mom has said to him, “head and heart.” He said that this saying isn’t just for wrestling, but for everyday life as well — head meaning to be smart, think about what you’re doing and don’t get yourself into trouble, heart to give it everything you got and never give up. 

“If you are willing to put in the work and a little bit more then good things will come,” Lagerman said.