Rattlers hit the mat at the Snake Pit

The San Marcos Rattlers hit the mat Thursday night at the Snake Pit in the first home match of the 2024 season.

Head Coach Garvin Smith was proud of his wrestlers despite them battling the challenge of their inexperience.

“It was a rough night however we have a extremely young team,” Smith said. “We have a bunch of freshman and sophomores. That means we good things coming in the future.”

But despite their inexperience, Smith is most proud of the team’s never say die attitude.

“I saw a lot of fight and drive from them, and nobody really gave up,” Smith said. “So I was extremely happy with them and proud of what they are doing. They are some of the hardest working young people that I’ve had. So that’s promising.”

San Marcos saw 17 wrestlers hit the mat for the Rattlers in both the boys and girls division as they faced wrestlers from both San Antonio Johnson and San Antonio Wagner.

Wrestling in their first season as freshmen was the duo of William Wray and Mila Juarez.

Wrestling in their first matches at home in front of their family, friends and piers, both Wray and Juraez felt the figurative butterflies in their stomachs.

“There was a bunch of nerves.” Wray said. “This was my first time wrestling despite having wrestled in club. So I would say I was pretty stacked against the freshman.

Juraez concurred. “There was a lot of nerves,” Juraez said. “The parents are here and everyone is here to see you. So you just want to go out there and do your best, but I feel we did pretty good.”

It was a consistent theme Smith noticed in his wrestlers as the Rattlers were both nervous and excited performing at the Snake Pit.

“For a lot them it was an eye opening experience,” Smith said. “They froze a little bit but at the same time they were excited to wrestle at home.”

One of the challenges the Rattlers have faced throughout the 2024 season has been their technique on the wrestling mat.

While the Rattlers hard work ethic has helped them in the season, the mastering of the little things is a hurdle San Marcos is trying to overcome.

“What we are lacking is technique,” Smith said. “ They are working hard and getting their conditioning which is helping on a whole lot of the matches. So the main thing is the time to learn the true technique of wrestling.”

However, what the Rattlers lack in experience, they make up in their ability to never give up.

“One of the most important strides I’ve seen is their unwillingness to quit,” Smith said. “I can push them and push them and they keep coming back for more.”

San Marcos will return to the Snake Pit Wednesday January 24 in the final regular season match of the season against New Braunfels Canyon.

cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc