On Nov. 20, from noon to 3 p.m., the Cavalier wrestling team packed the Coral Gables Senior High School gym for a high-energy scrimmage featuring two squads, Team Red and Team Grey. Although no outside schools were invited, the afternoon felt like a true competition day. Coaches, teammates and a few families watched from the bleachers as athletes battled for a chance to prove they are ready for the upcoming winter season.
To simulate the intensity of a real meet, wrestlers were paired by weight classes, alternating between Team Red and Team Grey. Each player had the chance to showcase their footwork and newly learned techniques from their preseason training. They circled the mats, stretched out their shoulders and hips and drilled their takedown entries while teammates offered reminders about stance. Instead of relying on the normal pace of their practices, wrestlers moved with urgency and helped determine early season expectations.
“The speed of the match felt way faster than a normal practice. Since we were paired with weight, everyone had to be concentrated from the start so it pushed me to focus on my setups and really think about every move I made. Scrimmages like this kind of show us where we stand and what we need to fix before we start going to real meets,” junior Nicholas Macias said.
When the first matches began, both teams pushed each other and fought for the upper hand. Even though the event only included members of the Gables roster, athletes still treated each moment as an opportunity to demonstrate improvements from conditioning sessions and drills.
Coach Thomas Hardy stood active throughout the three hours, constantly giving feedback from the edge of the mats. Instead of waiting until breaks to offer corrections, he called out adjustments in real time, reminding wrestlers to keep their heads up and follow through on transitions.
“When Coach kept giving us advice during the matches, it pushed me to stay focused and win. Instead of waiting for a break to fix something, we had to adjust on the spot, which made the whole scrimmage feel way more real. It helped me see what I need to work on before the season officially starts,” junior Nicholas Sanchez said.
The scrimmage also allowed Coach Hardy to evaluate conditioning. Due to the event running continuously, wrestlers needed to maintain energy through multiple rounds while still staying focused. Many underclassmen experienced this type of pressure for the first time; they moved from one match to the next with limited time to rest, which forced them to rely on their pacing, breathing control and footwork. The layout of the scrimmage gave many a clear picture of what the winter season would require.
Support from teammates, families and even fellow students added to the competitive atmosphere and pushed the players further. The gym echoed with claps and cheers whenever a wrestler would secure a takedown or escaped from a tight hold. These reactions kept the energy high and despite Team Red and Team Grey competing against each other, the energy from the bleachers showed that the wrestling program values teamwork more than isolated progress.
During one of the afternoon’s matchups, sophomore Blake Axelrad faced junior Nicholas Sanchez in a fight that immediately drew attention. Both wrestlers came out aggressively, trading fast attempts at control as the pace sped up. The energy between the two stayed heated, but Sanchez quickly showed dominance and drove Axelrad to the mat. For most of the match, Axelrad struggled to break free as Sanchez kept him pinned down, preventing any meaningful escape attempts. The matchup showed Sanchez’s strength and control while still highlighting Axelrad’s determination to keep fighting despite the disadvantage.
“That match definitely pushed me more than anything we’ve done in practice. Nico kept heavy pressure on me and even though I couldn’t get out of it, it showed me really what I need to work on, so, I’m just taking it as motivation because going against tough teammates like that is what’s going to make me better this season,” sophomore Blake Axelrad said.
As the scrimmage continued, athletes demonstrated their commitment to improving their methods. They wrestled through mistakes and tested different techniques they have practiced since preseason training began. With Team Grey pulling ahead and ultimately earning a 76-21 victory over Team Red, players pushed themselves to score whenever they could. Even with a scoreboard, wrestlers still took smart risks and used this as a chance to step outside of their comfort zone and challenge their limits under pressure. The scoring helped Coach Hardy evaluate which techniques worked in real situations and which areas each player needs to improve before the season begins.
As the winter schedule approaches, the scrimmage stands as an important step in the team’s preparation. Wrestlers left the gym tired, but motivated, carrying new ideas about their strategy and mindset. Coach Hardy plans to turn the matchups’ takeaways into improved lineups, tougher practices and a clearer game plan for the upcoming months. With weeks of practice still ahead, the Cavaliers plan to build on the energy from the Red vs. Grey scrimmage and enter their first official meet with confidence.
