Sophomore Krystian Retialo-Ross wrestles during the winter season at Shadow Ridge so he can be involved in a school sport and make new friends. He has learned techniques and made adjustments to his schedule and what he does during his free time because of his strong dedication towards his sport.
“I first got into wrestling because I used to be really overweight,” explains Retialo-Ross.
Students always have different reasons for joining sports or becoming part of a team. For Retialo-Ross, it wasn’t only for fun, but also to improve his fitness and work on himself as a whole. He has gotten much more fit since starting wrestling.
“Going to regionals has, by far, been my greatest accomplishment for wrestling,” Retialo-Ross says.
Regionals is a great accomplishment for any athlete, but for Retialo-Ross, this was a life changing opportunity and such a great experience for him. Through his experiences, he has gained new life skills that have made him a better person and athlete.
Retialo-Ross states, “My biggest goal for this season was definitely to win as much as possible.”
Any athlete loves to win and do well in their sport. Generally, this is a good goal, especially for Retialo-Ross and his big aspirations towards wrestling.
“He has influenced me by helping me think positively about different situations,” sophomore Jaiven Tagama said.
His friends describe him as a very influential person no matter what. Whether he is cracking jokes, helping teammates, or working through tough times, Retialo-Ross’s positive work ethic is a good attribute to the team.
Tagama states, “His amazing personality and attitude towards wrestling has always stayed very consistent, when not injured, which made me think that he liked the sport overall.”
Wrestling is a sport where athletes must stay consistent throughout the whole season. It is a sport that requires both mental and physical strength and discipline. He has learned the importance of being accountable with eating, practicing, and competing.
“My favorite part about wrestling and the thing I look forward to most is when I finally get to eat some good food after weigh ins,” Retialo-Ross explains.
His hard work builds up quite an appetite, which makes getting to eat a big meal afterwards a great reward for such dedication to his dieting for matches. Retialo-Ross hopes to improve with wrestling and hopefully win some championships in the next two years before he graduates.
