The LM wrestling team has had a memorable season this winter, having an overall record of 10-10, the best the team has performed since 2011. This achievement is a testament to the team’s unwavering hard work, dedication, and determination throughout the season. Under the leadership of captains Sam Caro ’25, Tamir Griffin ’26, Sam Soeffing ’26, Aaron Silber ’26, and Keegan Daley ’27, the team consistently improved their skills and remained resilient through tough matchups against some of the league’s most competitive teams, bringing home important wins. When asked about this progress, Griffin noted, “we’ve built up a strong chemistry on the team…and we’ve been winning more of our matches,” emphasizing the importance of unity and team bonding. Daley added that “starters on the team put in a lot of work in the offseason that is paying off now.” The athletes have fostered a supportive and cohesive environment, with members pushing themselves and each other to elevate their performance during training and matches.
A major highlight of LM wrestling’s season was the Central League Tournament, where five wrestlers placed: Griffin placed third in the 189-pound weight class, Soeffing finished fourth at 152 pounds, Daley secured fifth place at 139 pounds, Silber took fifth at 145 pounds, and Uri Kamienchick ’25 also claimed fifth at 172 pounds. These strong finishes are a further testament to the dedication and hard work of the team this season, and Coach Harry Keyser reflected, “This team has a really solid group of sophomores and juniors who have been competing together for a while now and have been putting in the work to improve. This season was the first time that they saw the fruits of their labor…This was also the first season in a long time in which we had a full line-up with competitive athletes at each weight. In years past, we have had to forfeit several weight classes due to having a small roster.”
However, the season was not without its challenges. One major setback were the injuries the wrestlers sustained during their matches. Several varsity team members suffered serious injuries such as concussions, broken fingers, and sprained ankles, preventing them from wrestling at their full potential. Despite these difficulties, the team persevered, with other members stepping up to fill in the gaps. Keyser said, “Just before the holiday break, we had a few varsity wrestlers out with injuries and we had four duals that week.” Daley also added, “we’ve had a lot of injuries but we’re battling back and preparing for districts.”
The team’s last regular season match took place on February 5 against Radnor and coincided with LM’s senior night, highlighting seniors Kamienchick, Caro, John Soefffing ’25 and team manager Wren Purcell ’25. The event was a bittersweet reminder of the time and effort these seniors have dedicated to the team over the years, as well as their critical role in the team’s development and success.
As the regular season wraps up, the LM wrestling team will be moving ahead to the upcoming district competition on February 22. Several wrestlers will have the opportunity to compete and move further along. Looking to the future, Keyser said, “almost our whole team is back next year and most will be seniors and juniors next year. If we continue our trajectory and ramp up our offseason training again, we should have a really good team record, compete to be near the top of the Central League, and have a lot of wrestlers qualify for the regional and state tournaments. Stay tuned.” The LM wrestling team has proven their ability as strong competitors, as well as laying the foundation for success in future seasons.
