The ASIJ wrestling team is in a rebuilding year after losing many seniors to graduation. More than half of the current roster is new to the sport, making this season challenging yet full of potential for the years ahead.

Despite the team’s inexperience, Coach Carlson highlighted several promising developments, including young wrestlers’ eagerness to learn and thoughtful questions, which help the team improve as a whole. Veteran wrestlers have additionally stepped up to teach newcomers not only advanced techniques but also advice to alleviate anxiety in the ring, building strong team spirit between newcomers and experienced wrestlers.

When it comes to match performance, the three captains stand out most. Malcolm Lee (‘27) and Ruby Hannam (‘26) remain undefeated, having lost not a single point all year, and Serena Koslow (‘26) has dominated at every tournament. All three entered the Far East tournament in Okinawa as first seeds in their weight classes.

At Far East, Malcolm and Serena emerged victorious, both winning the Most Outstanding Wrestler awards. Ruby and Mireille took second place and fifth place in their weight classes, respectively, while Asher Cook and Ryuichi Hishida tied for fifth in the boys’ cohort. Younger wrestlers Liam Gottfredson (‘28) and Emma Fread (‘28) also placed highly, demonstrating that the team’s dominance wasn’t limited to experienced upperclassmen.

The tournament was the first time ASIJ’s female wrestlers competed in a girls-only Far East competition. Coach Carlson said this gave wrestlers like Serena, Ruby, and Mireille—who have been on the team for years—a particularly exciting chance to showcase their dominance in the ring.

While the departure of so many former wrestlers has been tough for the team to bear, the foundation is being set for future success. If the new wrestlers stick with the sport, the team should be back to full strength in a couple of years.