With thirteen wrestlers returning from their successful 2021-22 season and twenty new wrestlers, Edgemont wrestling has high hopes for another triumphant season. After being Small School Section 1 title winners, having three wrestlers compete at the state level, and having seven All-Section wrestlers, the 2021-22 squad earned its place in Edgemont sports history.
With an amazing set of coaches, trainers, managers, and players, the 2021-22 wrestling team felt primed for a glorious season. With many seniors having left the team, the new and returning wrestlers have big shoes to fill and have a lot to accomplish to rival their predecessors. However, with diligent athletes and the excellent coaching of Coach Pete Jacobson, Edgemont remained poised for success.
Our program impacts our players because we try to help them be successful for the rest of their lives
Coach Pete is a distinctive coach who has brought Edgemont many section titles, state champions, All-State wrestlers, numerous All-Section wrestlers, and countless All-League wrestlers. He bonds with all his players and makes them the best possible versions of themselves. Coach Pete finds that the Edgemont wrestling program “is designed to teach the players the quality and the characteristics they need to be successful in wrestling and also everything they do in life. Wrestling is just a vehicle we use to make it happen. Our program impacts our players because we try to help them be successful for the rest of their lives.”
Everything we do in our program is designed so the players and athletes are on the path to making those goals happen
Being a Coach, he wants his team and players to flourish, therefore, he wishes for his team to “achieve their individual goals, which is different for everyone and we (the program) want to make those goals a reality. Everything we do in our program is designed so the players and athletes are on the path to making those goals happen.”
A coach may be a major part of a team's achievements; however, a coach is unable to step into a match and wrestle. This is where the role of each individual player comes into play. After interviewing some of the wrestlers of the Edgemont team, it is evident that the successful and determined mindset that is ingrained in each and every player is what makes this team so extraordinary.
Wrestling shaped how I live my life making it an important aspect of my life.
Joseph Saito (‘24) is a five-year, All-Section wrestler who states, “Wrestling shaped how I live my life making it an important aspect of my life. When we wrestle Coach Pete tells us he doesn’t care if we lose; he only cares if we gave 100% effort. This is because you have 100% control over the amount of effort you put into something but you have no control over the outcome. Coach Pete also tells us that if you love the process long enough the process will always love you back. This means that if you keep practicing something consistently, success will always come even if it is not immediate. Edgemont wrestling has improved my mentality and my ability to handle things mentally.”
During the wrestling season the coaches help us become not only stronger and healthier but they also help us to be in a condition where going through a six-minute match with no breaks doesn’t have us burnt out and fatigued.
Of course, a wrestling match cannot always be won mentally. The many hours each individual player puts into practice helps the wrestling team to triumph. Practicing six days a week for two hours, the Edgemont team goes through a heavy physical toll to be successful. Ben Major (‘25) is a first-year wrestler who finds that, “During the wrestling season the coaches help us become not only stronger and healthier but they also help us to be in a condition where going through a six-minute match with no breaks doesn’t have us burnt out and fatigued. Coach finds a way to make wrestling practices and lifts exhausting and beneficial but enjoyable and exciting at the same time.”
Given the intensive hours, exceptional coaching, and committed athletes, the Edgemont wrestling team look promising.