On Tues., Jan. 20, Bishop Gorman’s senior wrestlers took the mat at home one final time on senior night, walking alongside their parents in a ceremony acknowledging years of dedication to the sport.
The three seniors being recognized at the ceremony were Jackson Brewington ‘26, Tristan Johns ‘26, Maddox Frerking ‘26 and Jessica Warnstedt ‘26. The athletes have built companionship on the team during their time as Gorman wrestlers, and this ceremony celebrated that.
Walking in front of your teammates while reflecting on the person you once were is what makes senior night truly unforgettable. “My mind during the walk out was surreal, it didn’t feel real. I reflected and thought of the first time I ever went to wrestling practice and saw my own progress right in front of me to where I was that night,” said Brewington, who began his wrestling journey last school year.
Being recognized in front of friends and family is what makes senior night so special. This recognition helps athletes feel the support and camaraderie of their teammate, exemplified on senior night. Johns, who has been wrestling since he was a sophomore, shared, “Wrestling can be such an individual sport, but in that moment, I felt surrounded by everyone who’s supported me along the way. Getting to share that moment with [my supporters] made all the early morning practices and tough losses worth it.”
The seniors have faced many challenges in this sport throughout their athletic careers. Warnstedt, being one of only six girls on the team this season, shared a unique perspective. “The toughest challenge was definitely my first season being only one of two girls. It’s. a really difficult sport, especially when you’re in such a male dominated environment.” She began wrestling when she was a junior, and shared she is glad to see the growth of other girls joining the sport.
A mentally tough sport, wrestling has taught the athletes many life lessons that they plan to take with them, even long after graduation. Johns said wrestling taught him that “you can’t control the outcome, only your effort and preparation. In wrestling, you can do everything right and still lose, or make mistakes and somehow pull out a win. What matters is showing up everyday and putting in the work, regardless of what happened yesterday.”
The senior night was the perfect way for the wrestlers to wrap up their season at home, however, the surreality of the evening hit some athletes hard. Brewington shared that the recognition “felt great. It was something I never thought I would be able to accomplish. It always felt distant leading up to the night, and like something others seemed to get.”
Now, the wrestlers are off to regionals, ready for their last few matches as high school wrestlers.
