To become fearsome on the mat as a wrestler, one must not only have a conditioned body but also a strong mind. According to wrestling coach Joe Pele, having a strong mindset is what separates senior captain Connor Mullaney from the average wrestler.

The wrestling team recently placed 12th out of 30 teams after competing in the Webber Lawson Tournament at Fremont High on Dec. 11.

Boys of varying sizes and builds walked into the wrestling room on Oct. 31 all ready to hit the mat once again and wrestle after being away for six months. This year, the team will be under the direction of coach Joe Pele, who started coaching the Falcons last year.

Pele has high expectations after seeing what the team had to offer last year.

“Last year was our first year together, and that is always a challenge for coaches and wrestlers,” Pele said. “The greatest strength was the courage displayed by the Falcon wrestlers each and every time they stepped on the mat.”

Senior Alfred Murabito’s wrestling career began at age 12. At the time he had no idea where wrestling would take him; it all began as just a fun pastime. Now, just a five years later, Murabito is taking his passion to the next level and plans to wrestle at University of Pennsylvania next fall.

Wrestling is no simple tangle of arms and legs.

Physics teacher Bill Drennan has touched the lives of countless students in the classroom, on the wrestling mat and on the golf course. For 35 years, he has challenged students them to open their minds and think outside the box, but at the end of this year he is retiring.

Having overcome numerous challenges throughout the season such as inexperienced newcomers, injury and the loss of players, the wrestling team stayed strong and sent four of its wrestlers to CCS at Independence High School on Feb. 25 and 26. Those wrestlers were juniors Graham Grant and AJ Murabito and sophomores Zach Hansen and Henry Wei.

Regardless of the nervousness emanating throughout Gilroy High school during the weekend of Jan. 22, the wrestling team remained staunch and wrestled their way into the upper rankings of Mid Cal, one of the most difficult wrestling tournaments in California.

For 14 weeks a year, the cheer team never fails to impress even the biggest critics in the bleachers with their rigorous routines at each football game.

Think only women are picky about their weight? Think again. In the world of wrestling, even the smallest weight gain or loss can send a wrestler tumbling through various weight classes and training; indeed, a wrestler’s dieting plan can rival the harshness of the Atkin’s.