By Lily Forster – Staff Reporter 

This past summer, the National Federation of High Schools put all sports into one of three categories: low risk, medium risk and high risk. 

At this time, Governor Lamont and the state Department of Public Health have not approved high risk sports to begin. As a result, winter sports have begun in Milford but wrestling has not been cleared to begin yet.

“I’d been optimistic all along hoping we’d at least get a shortened or abbreviated season, with that being said as things progressed I knew that our season was in jeopardy,” head coach Mr. Schoonmaker said. “It’s very difficult as it’s been a very long time since I haven’t been competing or coaching wrestling. This is my first winter since I was 15 yrs old that I haven’t been actively involved and on the mats in some capacity.”

The Jonathan Law wrestling team will begin their conditioning sessions shortly to ensure that they are ready if the go-ahead is given for them to have a season this school year. 

“With that said, we all know how important wrestling is to our student-athletes,” Jonathan Law athletic director Mr. Sarullo said. “So the CIAC and the state continue to monitor the health metrics as they make further decisions on which sports are approved to be played.” 

The team was doing workouts via Twitter that Schoonmaker was posting, but has stopped them recently. Schoonmaker has also been in contact with all team members via text and phone.

Those workouts will be starting up again when the team is allowed to start conditioning. 

When the team is able to start conditioning, they will be wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. They will be able to work on some non-contact wrestling related drills.

As of right now with COVID-19 going on, wrestlings conditioning would be outside, if and when they are cleared to start.

“But I have many workouts we can do to condition as well as some wrestling related non-contact drilling,” Schoonmaker said.

Members of the team are looking forward to earning the program’s 600th dual meet win if they are fully cleared for the winter season.

“We hope to get more guys advancing to state opens this year,” sophomore Louis Sabo said. “A couple of sophomores and juniors coming back with potential to place and get us back in the race.”