Bruins wrestlers rise and shine

With dawn breaking on another season of high school wrestling, the wrestlers at Rock Bridge High School are doing their part to get an early start on their competition.

As cold wind whips soft snow flakes across the bleak landscape that is the Rock Bridge parking lot, the wrestlers trudge heads down toward a room covered in yellow and green mats. Light hasn’t even broken on a new day yet. It probably won’t for at least another 45 minutes.

But don’t feel sorry for them. They asked for this.

New head coach Brook Harlan has begun the season with non-mandatory morning practices for his athletes, where they can go to workout and drill in preparation for the upcoming season.

Originally, the morning practices were only supposed to be twice a week. But Harlan’s wrestlers pushed for more, asking for daily optional practices. His team has responded, and usually eight to 12 athletes wake up at 5:30 a.m. or earlier to make the 6:30 a.m. start time.

The practices generally consist of running, jumping rope, drilling and more running, mixed in with periodic stretching.

For each of the wrestlers, the morning practices serve different purposes.

Dane Griffin, a 152-pound sophomore, shrugs his shoulders and said his purpose is simple.

“Trying to make weight for after practice, and just get better,” he said.

Griffin said he knows the importance, short-term and long-term, of getting the younger kids in for the pre-dawn workouts.

“When they come in in the morning, it shows they have heart and want to get better for later on down the road,” he said.

Justin Davis, the Bruins senior team captain and returning 103-pound state qualifier, shouts encouragement and gives instruction to his teammates. He said he has only one problem with the morning practices.

“Waking up early,” he said, laughing.

But overall, the morning practices are worth it.

“Getting an extra workout in and getting up early ... feels good to get in here and break a sweat,” Davis said.

Harlan said the benefits for his wrestlers are clear.

“It’s an option for them, to come in and work hard,” he said. “They get used to wrestling in the morning.”

Harlan said that getting more guys to come work out in the morning will be key for the development of his young team. The wrestlers push each other, and seeing others coming in has provided some extra motivation.

“Building some team unity between the guys, they’re all out here together, all in the same boat, they’re not there on their own,” Harlan said. “I used to (work early on his own) in high school and it’s a lot harder to do that rather than coming in with a lot of people.”

With such a young team, Harlan has had to spend more time during afternoon practices on basic drills, teaching the team more rudimentary skills. But Harlan said the more experienced wrestlers use the extra time well.

“If someone needs to work on something specific, they can ask us about it,” he said. “There’s a little bit more one-on-one contact.”

Harlan said he knows from personal experience what the kids are going through.

“Even just with my normal classes, I very rarely see the light of day during wrestling season,” Harlan said.