Senior Brock Branstietter takes off his jacket and gets warmed up ready to wrestle. The coaches and referees get in position with the crowd cheering loudly. They shake hands and the referee blows the whistle and Branstietter and his opponent begin to circle.

Bransteitter played nose guard during the football season and is now wrestling for the school. Branstietter won his first match against Belton. He loves how he made weight.

“My favorite moment was making weight my first time since it is really challenging to do,” Branstietter said.

Bransteitter has three 6-0 wins this year. Junior Gavin Gallman thinks Branstietter brings good spirit to the team.

“One day, he came in all dressed up for practice ready to make weight and that was kind of funny,” Gallman said.

Branstietter finished his first and last season of wrestling with a record of 5-3. Freshman, Preston Brashear, enjoys working and getting better with Brock. 

“I enjoy working out with Brock,” Brashear said. “We always push each other and we keep each other motivated as well.” 

Branstietter made the district team and second team all state for football. Branstietters favorite wrestler is Spencer Lee who wrestles for the University of Iowa. Branstietter loves the competition. 

“My favorite schools to wrestle against are Belton and Grain Valley because of the rivalries,” Branstietter said.

The two wrestlers continue to circle around the wrestling mat wondering who will strike first. 

Bransteitter gets the take down and gets his opponent in near fall. The referee counts off three seconds with his hand then slaps it down on the mat signaling a fall. The two wrestlers disengage and join the referee at the center of the mat where he lifts Bransteitter’s arm in victory.