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Last weekend, McKinley wrestlers competed in a tournament hosted at Kalaheo gym. Both first-year wrestlers and returnees wrestled.

“It was scary and exciting,” said Fuamete Fuiava, a first-year wrestler. Most people find wrestling to be a dangerous sport to join, but for others wrestling is a passion and a great sport to join.

Practices for the wrestling team usually run from  after school to 5:30.

“Practice is challenging and tests your mental ability,” Kaydie-Lynn said. The wrestlers work on different scenarios that would happen in a match as well as conditioning. Basic takedowns and escapes are taught to help each wrestler become better and more knowledgeable about the sport.

“During practice, I think to myself, ‘How can I be better than yesterday?’” Travez Suka said. Conditioning helps the wrestlers to last longer in matches and “outlast” their opponent.