Student Life

LHS Varsity Wrestling Impresses

The Leonia Lion’s wrestling team has had a great run this season. Currently 11-3, the team is the third seed in the State Sectional Team Tournament and Bergen County’s Group A team champion.

Senior girl’s wrestling captain, senior Tavishi Unnithan, stated, “This season has been going great and we are definitely looking at a winning record. We have really promising wrestlers this year like August Hibler, Seach Hibler, Stav Fronimos, and Elad Fronimos, and a lot of us will hopefully make it to states together.” 

“There has been a lot of senior leadership and a lot of help from the upperclassmen,” said Mr. Morrisey, assistant coach of the wrestling team and English teacher at Leonia High School. “This team is unique because from top to bottom, freshmen to seniors, everybody is coming to do their job whether it’s winning matches or staying off their back; they know what their roles are coming into the match. The comradery has been great.”

Not only has the team been doing amazing, but so have their peers in the student section at home games. With the new addition of the spotlight in the gym, which was donated by Leonia Sports Boosters, attendance and support at home matches has increased tremendously. 

“The spotlight adds a different vibe and level of excitement to our home wrestling matches and it has definitely impacted attendance,” Mr. Perrotta, the athletic director, noted, “The crowds at home wrestling matches are much larger than in years past and I’m sure the wrestlers feed off the energy coming from the large crowd when they are competing.”

Head coach of the team, Mr. Kroncke, stated, “I am extremely proud of this group from maturing from a below .500 team record to this now. This is a special group of young men and women who strive to succeed. This team is built on being better humans, better students, and better wrestlers. The word ‘proud’ truly would be an understatement.” 

 

Edited by: Katerina Romanides