Marion’s Austin Fritz looks for better days on the mat

MARION - As Marion freshman Austin Fritz steps onto the mat, he hears the crowd roaring and his teammates clapping as loud as an elephant stampede.

He squares up and gets ready to face his opponent.

There are many reasons why a person does the sport they love. For Fritz, it's the individual challenge.

'I wrestle so I don't have to rely on my teammates,” he said.

Every team and individual goes through struggles and this year the hardest thing for Fritz and some of his teammates is stamina, an important aspect in wrestling because the sport makes you use your entire body at once. The motions that occur when moving in a match work the entire upper body and the legs.

'I've been trying to cut weight to get into the class I want to in preparation,” Fritz said.

If there was one thing Fritz can improve on, it's being more disciplined, he said. There are many things a wrestler may do to help them excel in the sport, but having discipline from your coaches and yourself also is important. That discipline is getting extra practice or lifting when all you want to do it watch Netflix on the couch and eat junk food.

Even though there has been a few struggles in the season, Fritz is hopeful the Indians can improve to finish strong.

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