The Palmetto Tigers Wrestling Team goes to Districts located in Charlotte Highschool in Punta Gorda, Florida. The team was very excited to attend and represented the school proudly.

The placers of the Palmetto Highs Wrestling team are the following students:

1st place: Junior Luke Lindley and Senior Ethan Bell

2nd Place: Senior Gabriel Thomas and Senior Yeidisson Santana

3rd Place: Senior Jacob Milligan and Sophmore Daston Chiketaev

I had the opportunity to get a quick interview from some of the wrestlers themselves. I interviewed first place recipients Luke Lindley and Ethan Bell in the wrestling room after school, and asked them both how it truly felt to be at districts and even place first. Luke Lindley replied by saying “It was fun to be with my teammates while I won districts”. Ethan Bell responded after Luke by saying “Districts was fantastic, it felt amazing to take first”. What an accomplishment by Luke Lindley and Ethan Bell.

I also interviewed Senior Wrestler, Santana Mercado. Santana started wrestling his Junior year and has been dedicated every day since. Wrestling shaped him into the person he is today, and he couldn’t be happier to be apart of this team. Santana suffered an injury that costed him his Senior season, a dislocated elbow that was caused at practice. After everything that’s happened, and a lot of healing, Santana’s love for wrestling never altered once. He stayed consistent, continued to go to every practice, and provide encouragement to all his teammates, who he considers family. Santana was healed just in time for Districts, where he’d wrestle his first and last time his Senior Year.

I asked Santana, “How would you describe your experience at Districts after coming back from an injury that lasted most of the season?” Santana replied, “Going to districts for the first time felt amazing, even after my season long injury. Districts was actually my first time on the mat this season. It felt natural to be back on the mat”.

I also asked a follow up question, which was “How would you describe your teammates success?” Santana stated, “Although I didn’t place, watching my teammates place made me very proud. I know how hard they all have been working, so seeing them place was great”.

Our Palmetto High Tigers Wrestling team is hardworking, humble, and will continue to accomplish every goal they set their mind too. Congratualtions again to all of our wrestlers here at Palmetto, and good luck to every wrestler attending Regionals on February 25th, 2022.