[wpbvideo id=’304807′]
Monett’s wrestling season starts this week.
Joseph says, ‘Wrestling has a special place in my heart.’
And, the beginning of the year brings a lot of uncertainty.
Coach says, ‘You never really know until they get out there, shake hands, and wrestle.’
This time last year, Joseph Semerad took the mat for the first time as a freshman.
Coach says, ‘His first week of varsity wrestling ever last year, he lost – he only lost three matches last year, and he lost two of them in the same weekend. He kind of had a tough beginning, and then it got rolling.’
Semerad rolled all the way to the State Championship.
Coach says, ‘He ended up going four in a row and getting four pins.’
Where he won the 106 weight class.
Joseph says, ‘Being a state champ, it was just a cool thing to accomplish. I’ve worked on my craft and just worked on a few moves from the top position that have helped me out in getting pins.’
Joesph was also on the soccer and baseball teams – sports that don’t have weight classes.
Joseph says, ‘I was around 125 or so.’
But, wrestling is here, and his goal –
Coach says, ‘His goal is to get to 106.
is about 20 pounds less than that.
Coach says, ‘It’s not going to happen over night. He’s continually working on that, to try to get to that weight class.’
Joseph says, ‘I start about a month out from competition, so I’ve been at it for awhile now.’
Cutting weight during the toughest time of the year, but, its been no problem.
Joseph says, ‘During Thanksgiving I actually enjoyed my break, I didn’t really worry about it too much, so I got to enjoy my family’s cooking.’
Joseph is starting his second year of varsity wrestling, and he’s looking to get a streak going.
While working on defending his state title, Joseph Semerad is this week’s Arby’s Athlete of the Week. In Monett, I’m Taylor Kauffman for the O-Zone.
