By Cesar Mendez – Staff Reporter

Zack Sulkis is a junior on the Jonathan Law wrestling team. Sulkis has been wrestling since he was a freshman. Advocate Staff Reporter Cesar Mendez interviewed Sulkis about the start of the wrestling season.

Cesar Mendez: What are you most exited about for the upcoming season? 

Zack Sulkis: I’m most excited about getting to compete this season. I put in a ton of work this offseason so I could do better than I did last year. I had a ton of matches I lost from stupid mistakes such as riding too high on top or turning into half nelson’s.

CM: What are some of your goals for the season?

ZS: A goal of mine that also stands for the team this year is finish over .500. With our schedule it’s very doable if everyone goes out and gives 100% every match and the returners go out and use their extra experience to their advantage. My personal goals are to place at heavyweight for at least three or four tournaments one of them being the Class M State Tournament and make it to the State Open this year.  

CM: What meet are you most looking forward too?

ZS: I’m most looking forward to the Snitkin duals at Norwich Free Academy. When we went there last year I just didn’t have it, and I lost my matches. This off season I worked whenever I had the chance so I could become better than I was last season. With the schools there now I’m really looking forward to those matchups because they were matches I should’ve won then and they are matches I’m fully capable of winning now. 

CM: What is your favorite part about being on Law’s wrestling team?

ZK: My favorite part about wrestling for Law is how competitive we are as a team and how everyone is there for each other to help those who are new or lost. I also like the history the program has. Last year I helped the team get its 600th all-time win by pinning Cheshire’s heavyweight. We are, I think, one of the top 18 winningest programs all-time in Connecticut. 

CM: What is the team doing to prepare for the season?

ZS: We have been wrestling hard in practice with more conditioning drills this year than last year. Me and some others got group conditioning sessions together before the season to make sure we were ready for practices. I also did lots of offseason training with a wrestling club I joined, competed in tournaments, and participated in camps. If you aren’t wrestling in the offseason when you comeback after your last year, you’re the same wrestler, just a year older.