Last year Johnny Mologousis ‘17 placed second in the state meet as a junior, assisting him in securing his long-awaited leadership role as a captain for LT varsity wrestling team. Mologousis is in good company with fellow senior captains Tyler Zeman ’17, Elias Garcia ’17 and Zach Villarreal ’17. All four senior leaders have either qualified or placed in the state meet in the past and have been wrestling varsity since their freshman year.

“It’s good to have guys working towards the same goals as you,” Mologousis said. “It creates an atmosphere where we’re all pushing each other to improve each day.”

The captains have been involved in the LT club team since fourth grade, and their coaches saw great potential in them at a very young age.

“They were competitive when they were younger, and now they have put themselves into a position where all four of them can be one of the best wrestlers in the state,” varsity Head Coach Griff Powell said.

Because all four wrestlers participated in the LT club team from a young age, they have known each other for a long time and have developed strong ties to one another.

“We all have a great relationship,” Villarreal said. “We are always talking to each other at all the meets and tournaments.”

The captains often reference their unwavering support for each other before each match, and even in times of distress.

In Zeman’s junior season, he separated his shoulder two weeks prior to the state series. The other three captains played a tremendous role in getting him ready to come back as well as gaining confidence when he returned, Zeman said.

“The way the other three have impacted me is in the way I view situations on and off the mat,” Garcia said. “Knowing I’m in a difficult situation, I know there are always people who care and are willing to help.”

In addition to benefitting themselves, they impact the team just as much, if not more.  As captains, they set the pace and bar for the younger wrestlers. They teach them that in order to succeed, they have to work extremely hard and make the right decisions outside of the wrestling gym, Mologousis said.

Throughout their four-year varsity careers, they have obtained a strong mindset and have displayed leadership qualities and their dedication numerous times.

“They took leadership roles in their sophomore years due to their success early on,” Powell said. “They do all the little things right and are dedicated.  They are great leaders on and off the mat.”

In their final season, all four are sad to see their high school careers coming to an end, but are proud of their accomplishments overall.

“It’s bitter sweet and feels insane how fast it went by,” Mologousis said. “It feels like yesterday that I was taking the ride down to state my freshman year. I’m sad to leave LT and all the memories and great times I’ve had in my childhood and my high school career.”

With the state meet Feb. 16-18, the main focus is staying healthy and being well prepared. With the strong senior leadership of the four captains, there is a strong sense of optimism that they will be high on the podium, Powell said.

Wrestling may be a sport, but over the past four years at LT, the strong bond between the four captains has turned into something more than teammates or friends.

“Tyler and I have had a very close relationship,” Garcia said. “We met in the second grade and he was one of the reasons I chose this wonderful sport. Wrestling turned all four of us from teammates to brothers over these past four years.”