With sweat still glistening on his forehead from practice, his face stuck expressing exhaustion as he fiddles with his hands and shirt, it’s wrestling preseason for Samuel Mena, going into his second year as a JV in wrestling, and he can’t wait until the real deal starts.
Samuel has big dreams for wrestling, with varsity looking like it’s just around the corner, but what’s most important for Samuel is that he keeps doing what he loves and enjoys the process. “I started my freshman year. I knew I needed to join a sport because I didn’t just want to sit around all day, and I missed out on football, so I gave wrestling a shot.”
Samuel always knew athletics would be a part of his life, and having missed football, he decided to give wrestling a try. Wrestling has been the greatest challenge for Samuel so far, but that’s what makes it so appealing to him. What was originally a second choice has now become a burning passion for Samuel, and with no plans to stop, he has a future brighter than the sun.
Getting into wrestling wasn’t easy, though. Sam says, “I really felt weak compared to everyone there.” He adds, “As long as I kept practicing, I knew I’d get there.” In the beginning, it was ruthless for Samuel, and with every loss, a bit of his motivation was chipped away, but the progress was too addicting to stop.
Other than winning, there are hundreds of other benefits to being in wrestling, and for Samuel, it could be something as simple as meeting people. “I’m really hoping I get to meet some more new people, people who will help me grow more than the person I am already,” Samuel says.
Just wanting to feel at home at Leyden was also a big push. He says, “Wrestling has had a big impact, especially starting high school. I thought that I wouldn’t have made any friends, and I felt kind of scared.” Although it was scary, Samuel decided to make an independent choice to join wrestling. “Once I joined wrestling, I definitely felt a lot more at home, and it really helped me find my place at school. I’m really glad I joined and met a lot of really nice people.”
Joining wrestling this year wasn’t even a question for Samuel. With state burned into his determination and his varsity placement almost a guarantee, who knows where he’ll end up next?
