Ava Seccuro co-editor-in-chief
The varsity wrestling team went undefeated at their seventh annual “King of the Hills” tournament against the Lawndale Cardinals, the Agoura Chargers, the Calabasas Coyotes and the Torrance Tartars this Wednesday. 
The palpable edge and intensity in the room offset the fact that this is the team’s first season and first match without CIF-State-placing powerhouse Daniel Heller (’19).
Head coach Ryan Faintich acknowledged that his wrestlers are “eager to get the season going,” but also that the team’s first win against Calabasas “got the job done but it wasn’t pretty,” he said.
Despite the favorable outcome of the tournament, Faintich’s biggest goal for this upcoming season is to “fill the void” that Heller left upon graduating.
“It hits home. That’s the biggest issue right now is trying to replace a guy that always made sure that he was the hardest worker in the room, so everybody else starting working hard to keep pace,” he said. “We’re waiting on someone in the room to [set] that pace, and it’ll happen, it’s just early in the season.” 
Stay tuned for more match recaps at the varsity wrestling team’s season progresses.
 
Visit the photo slideshow below to see details and photos from the “King of the Hills” tournament.