The Sandburg boys wrestling program has recently started its season, focused on growth, continued effort, and competitive attitudes to every match and practice. Coach Polz explains that the program’s success begins with the smaller habits the wrestlers build daily. “If everyone in the line-up can focus on the little things and winning close matches, it will pay off for the entire team,” he says. 

He describes this year’s roster as a motivated group that works hard for each other. “This is a young, scrappy group of wrestlers,” Coach Polz said. “They push each other every day in practice, and it has made for a tough but fun environment.”

Junior wrestler Nidal Suleiman witnesses that competitive culture firsthand. He explains that the room stays focused and intense because everyone wants to get better. “The attitude in the room is serious this year,” Suleiman states. “Everyone is trying to put in the work and improve, and it shows during practice.”

Suleiman explains that one of the most important parts of the sport is the time athletes invest into getting better. “We have practice almost all week,” he shares. “And once the season begins, the tournaments and duels can last very long.”

Throughout the season, wrestlers help each other stay prepared on and off the mat. Suleiman mentioned how the support inside the program makes a difference: “The team supports each other by being there when our teammates need any help with a move, or if someone wants to record their match at a tournament, they will help with that.” 

Beyond sports, he reflects that “wrestling has taught [him] discipline and hard work pays off and to always go one hundred percent for everything you do.”

Coach Polz emphasizes that the long-term goals shift as the season moves forward, but the core goal of the program remains steady. That is “to continue to get better each time we step on the mat, continue to push, and make sure we are the team winning the tight matches when it comes down who is tougher out there.”

For Suleiman, being part of Sandburg wrestling means contributing to something bigger. “I enjoy getting to be part of something big and getting to work hard at something to get through these long parts of the school year,” he states. 

As the season continues, Sandburg’s wrestlers remain committed to improvement, staying tough, and supporting one another to reach their full potential.