Winter is now upon us, which means that the Saint Xavier wrestling season is in full swing. The Tigers are looking to improve from their ninth-place finish last season at state and return to the top.

The Tigers have many successful individual performers returning from last season, most notably seniors Carter Guillaume, the state champion in the 285-pound weight class, and Max Speaker, who finished fifth in the state tournament last season and is looking for more this season. Danny Jaso, a junior for the Tigers, is one of the key contributors looking to step up for the varsity program this season.

“The goal is to put as many people into the state tournament as possible this season and finish top five in the state,” senior leader Max Speaker said. “We can accomplish this by not taking a single practice for granted and outworking everyone. We have a great group of young guys that can really be the difference maker on whether or not we achieve our goals.”

The wrestling team is in the midst of preparation for their upcoming season, and their practices are grueling during this time of year. The work ethic of the Tigers and their determination to reach the top of the state is driving them for this season.

“My goal for the team is to be tougher and work harder than any other team,” Guillaume said.

There are a lot of new faces on this varsity squad that will need to make major contributions this year in order to sustain excellence within the program. The key to being successful in wrestling is trusting your teammates and being a cohesive group that supports each other, and this team thrives with these categories.

“This team is like a family and we always have each other’s back,” Jaso said. “If one of us succeeds, then everyone else does too.”

The wrestling team is looking to claim their first team state championship since 2013, and with a unique blend of youthful talent and returning stars, the Tigers look primed to be one of the best teams in the state this season.