The wrestling team this season won its first section championship since 1988, and junior co-captain Mikey Griffiths played a big role. 

Griffiths has been dominant on the mat this year, having a personal record of 25-5. He has also made a difference for the team, leading them to a 10-8 record and a 3-1 section record.

His favorite moment this year was when he got the win against a very good opponent from Bethel Park, which was key for the team’s success and helped them go on to win the section championship.

“I wrestled well and was able to get a crucial win for our team,” Griffiths said.

His favorite wrestling competition is the Allegheny County Championship because all the teams from the county go there and wrestle.

Off the mat, Griffiths goes to the gym two or three times a week and participates in clubs during the offseason. This summer, he plans on competing in a summer league.

Griffiths said he is a more technical wrestler and smoother at transitions than he was last year, and he is in better shape than before.

“I go to the gym a lot during the summer and work out with the team during the season,” Griffiths said.

Sophomore Jaxson David said Griffiths is a good teammate.

“He’s a good leader, he puts in the work at practice, and motivates us at matches,” David said.

Junior Dylan Fleming, another co-captain on the team, agreed.

“Mikey is a great leader and teammate. You can always ask him for help,” Fleming said.

Griffiths, motivated by his dad, joined the wrestling team in middle school. He soon knew he could become a good wrestler.

“I’ve always been good at it,” Griffiths said. He had been “just wrestling around with my friends, and figured I’d try it out.” 

After joining the wrestling team, Griffiths knew he wanted to motivate other teammates and friends to join wrestling and take the time to become good at it. Fleming, who started wrestling in freshman year, benefited from Griffiths’s leadership.

“Because of Mikey, he got me in the right headspace, and I won my first-ever match,” Fleming said.

Griffiths loves wrestling because it allows him to practice every day and compete. He also said he loves the excitement it brings.   

Griffiths plans on wrestling in college.