By Isla Concepcion – Staff Reporter

Sophomore Meghan Velasquez has been on Jonathan Law’s wrestling team for the last two years. In the spring, she is also a member of the outdoor track team. Advocate Staff Reporter Isla Concepcion interviewed Velasquez about the upcoming wrestling season.

Isla Concepcion: What do you hope to accomplish this year?

Meghan Velasquez: This year, I hope to make the Top 6 at the girls state tournament and place to win at least one or two matches at the annual Queen of the Mat tournament at Foran.

IC: What is it like being on the wrestling team?

MV: The vibe is great and fun, when we have matches it’s fun to watch everyone wrestle their best and at tournaments its fun to walk and explore new schools while watching their teams and wrestlers. It’s definitely a hard sport, if not one of the hardest offered at Law. It takes a lot of discipline and mental strength, not just brute strength.

IC: What do you look forward to this year?

MV: I look forward to spending time with the increasing number of girls on the team. I also look forward to improving from last year, either my technique or my stamina. 

IC: What is it like to wrestle on a team that is predominantly boys?

MV: Personally, it’s not a weird or harsh experience. Growing up with an older brother who wrestled, I already am used to the tough environment of the boys and their interesting sense of humor. It helps that none of them are severely sexist (neither are our coaches), although they do make jokes, and they recognize that girls can be very good at wrestling. 

IC: What do you hope to do differently than last year?

MV: I hope I can get past my mental block and go into matches more confidently, whether I win or lose.