There’s one phrase Catholic High wrestling coach Tommy Prochaska uses
when describing his 2014 wrestling squad: Well-rounded.
“This year, for us, we’re a well-rounded team,” Prochaska said. “We
don’t have that superstar. Guys are fighting for their spots, and
they’re trying to get better every day. They’ve really bought into the
team concept.
“Everybody’s got their job to do, and they’ll do what they can to try
and achieve that.”
Prochaska and his squad will have an opportunity this weekend to
showcase just how well-rounded they try to win their 12 straight city
championship beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Catholic.
Despite the lack of a superstar, the Bears roster is still filled
with a number of mat technicians, including senior captains Matt Moreau
and James Claitor, defending city champions in their weight classes.
The Bears stroll into this weekend with a 23-5 record on the year,
eager to prove their worth compared to past Catholic teams.
“People around Baton Rouge and the state look at us as if we are
having a down year,” said Moreau, the reigning 175-pound city champion.
“That we’re not the team that we used to be; so we’ve kind of used that
to motivate us.”
Moreau and Claitor, who serve as team captains and senior leaders for the
Bears squad, said the team relies on each other while holding each wrestler
accountable every day in practice.
“As a captain, you have to understand that people are watching everything
that you do,” Claitor said. “We have to set a good example for the other guys
and work hard every day”
“We expect more out of each other every day,” Moreau
said. “We push the guy next to us, and it’s really been the trademark of our
team.”
Prochaska said teammates maintaining such high standards for each other
brings out the best in the athletes and serves the greater good of the team.
“It puts a little pressure on [the athletes] and gets them to grow up,”
Prochaska said. “(The athletes) are being held accountable not just by their
coaches but also by their teammates. When they start cheering for the team
before themselves, you’re able to do great things.”
Claitor, who moved up to the 145-pound weight division after competing at
138-pounds in 2013, tends to lead by example.
“I’m not very vocal,” Claitor said. “I typically just lead through my
actions.”
As representatives of Catholic High, there comes a certain level of
responsibility that is bestowed upon each athlete that dons the black and
orange.
“One of the first things they tell you when you come to Catholic High School
is that it’s your job to leave this place better than when you got there,”
Moreau said.
Following the city championship meet this weekend, the Bears will set their
sights toward the state championship Feb. 21 at the Pontchartrain Center in
Kenner, where they hope to build on a third-place finish from last season.
“That’s our one goal every year, to win state,” Claitor said. “Guys off that
team don’t talk about their individual matches, they talk about winning state as
a team.”
