As the Gunnison boys wrestling team kicks off its season this week with a home dual against Olathe on Thursday, Cody Casebolt will begin a journey he hopes culminates with a state title in February.
“My brother always tells me before a match - he calls it the pressure cooker - put them in a pressure cooker until they can’t do anything,” Casebolt said. “I want to control the match and not let them get to their moves. I only do what I want to do out there. I want to keep my opponent on the edge of the mat and when they are on their feet I want to grind them until they give up.”
Because Casebolt has the experience, the senior took third place in Class 3A at 138 pounds last year, Gunnison coach Michael Seijo said he knows how to apply constant pressure on opponents.
“He’s very relentless,” Seijo said. “He’s been doing it a long time. He’s got experience under his belt. He’s one of those guys who will wrestle for six minutes and take an opponent into deep waters and just outlast you for six minutes.”
If everything goes according to plan, Casebolt stands atop the podium at the end of the season.
“The state championship, I want to win it,” he said after wrestle offs on Monday. “I need to stay consistent throughout the year and keep growing. I think by the end of year I want to be wrestling at my best, at my peak. I don’t want to grind myself too hard at the beginning. I want to peak at the right time.”
In order to endure the grueling wrestling season and still improve throughout the year there are long hours before and after school spent in the mat room. Seijo and junior Zach Benson, who finished in 4th place at 138 last year, squared off in the mat room. It’s part of the process for Benson who can tire out his coach on the mat.
“He’s always looking to get in as much work as possible,” Seijo said. “He’s a big strong kid. He’s young, fiery, works hard and asks a lot of questions. He’s always trying to find the next things to get better at. He can use his success last year to build confidence and take the next steps to get on top of the podium.
“He’s got heavy, heavy hands. He’s a big Greco guy who wants to make you feel him the whole time and wear on you and tire you out.”
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