Mindset, rivalries, and all on you. These three key principles are why freshman Kellen Krivohlavek enjoys wrestling the most.
Krivohlavek has not been wrestling his whole life, yet he is still dedicated to his sport.
“I’ve been wrestling for three years and I started in 7th grade,” Krivohlavek said.
Ever since that 7th grade season, Krivohlavek has been making countless memories while wrestling; his favorite one being during his first year.
“In 7th grade, this kid Colton Drew, who’s going to State too, beat me for the first two matches of my season and then I got him at City that year,” Krivohlavek said. “My favorite stuff is also just hanging out with the team.”
As much as he likes the team bonding, Krivohlavek’s favorite part of his sport is the individuality.
“I like that it’s all on you, pretty much, and if you lose it’s on you,” Krivohlavek said.
With that individuality, comes challenges. The pressure may be all on you to win or lose, but it is also on you to push yourself during the match and work as hard as you can, which Krivohlavek considers a difficult aspect of wrestling.
“Honestly, just having the mentality of trying to win, and not giving up mid-match,” Krivohlavek said. “If you’re down, you just have to fight.”
This is the mindset Krivohlavek had to have, even though he did not have the best beginning to his high school wrestling career.
“I had low expectations from the start of the season, just because I started off pretty bad; had a low record with a lot of losses, but we made it.”
After a slow start, Krivohlavek picked it up and fought through some tough matches at Districts to make it all the way to State as a freshman.
“I think Districts were pretty good, I went 2-2, faced Colton Drew but I lost, and then faced Cole Welte, he beat me pretty bad,” Krivohlavek said.
At the State tournament, Krivohlavek first has to face the number one wrestler in the state for his weight class, so he is diligently preparing for that match and the ones after.
“I’m coming up with a couple shots, just two main things that I can master, and just thinking that I can win and maybe do something.”
