Students aim to add wrestling to sports

Bishop Van Buren, Sports Editor

After many failed attempts in years past, it seems Tomball High School will finally have its own wrestling team.
Students have been building interest in the idea, such as Rafael Paubel, a sophomore who has participated in wrestling and many other combat sports since he was 5 years old.
“I want to take Tomball High School to the next level,” Paubel said. “Hopefully I can earn a scholarship along the way.”
The wrestling team will also be open to spots for inexperienced athletes looking to try something new, such as Blake Rogers, a sophomore on the JV Baseball team,
“I’m very intrigued at the opportunity to try something new,” Rogers said. “I often get bored before baseball starts.”
For those who are interested but have no prior knowledge of wrestling, it is a contact sport for both boys and girl in which score is determined by a point system, 2 points for a takedown (forcing your opponent down onto the mat), 1 point for an escape (getting out of your opponents takedown), and 2 points for a reversal (gaining control of your opponent while pinned and causing a takedown).
Wrestling season consists of multiple meets and tournaments starting in early November and lasting through February, only conflicting with the basketball season.
The wrestling team will definitely take on some high expectations with how well other sports have been doing, Rafael made sure to note that he’s not one to shy away from these challenges.
“Baseball, basketball, football, volleyball, and girls’ soccer all did well and represented THS,” Paubel said. “I want to make sure wrestling joins them.”
If enough student support exists, the team could be in place this year.