Senior Jacob Kunkel has always thought wrestling would be an interesting sport, so he decided to try it out his senior year.

“I have wanted to try it since my freshman year, and two of my good friends that wrestle told me that they think I’d be good at wrestling,” Kunkel said.

Taking on a new sport can be scary and intriguing for anyone at any age, especially during your senior year since you only have one year to do your best and compete.

“It is very difficult since I have to wrestle kids that I have been wrestling since they were 5 and 6 years old,” Kunkel said. “And they know so much more than me.”

Kunkel started wrestling this year and was very intrigued to start the season. But as the season began, Kunkel had a prior injury from football that stopped him from competing. After only a couple of matches, he was forced to quit wrestling due to the injury.

Kunkel explained his injury and why he can no longer wrestle.

“During football season, I had a major concussion that I did not figure out I had until a month later when I passed out and had a seizure out of nowhere,” Kunkel said. “The doctors told me that I can no longer play another physical sport for the rest of my life.”

Quitting affected Kunkel emotionally. He was upset when the doctors told him he could no longer wrestle.

“I have never been a quitter. If I start something, I will do my best to finish it,” he said. “It hurt my pride and also it hurt knowing I have to quit a sport I was just starting to enjoy.”

Since the injury, Kunkel now suffers from major migraines and has to accept them as the “new normal.”

Before Kunkel found out he had to quit wrestling, he was able to compete in a couple of wrestling matches.

He said it was challenging competing in a new sport.

“I feel I have a disadvantage,” Kunkel said. “There are people that have been wrestling their whole life and have way more experience than me.”

However, Kunkel said there are some things he had done to prepare him for the mat.

“I realize that me lifting weights and being stronger has helped me drastically,” Kunkel said.

Most people think that since they don’t have any experience in a sport, they have to practice more than others.

Kunkel doesn’t feel that’s the case for him.

“I wouldn’t say I practiced more than others,” Kunkel said. “But I would say that when I’m at practice, I know I have to work harder than everyone else there because everyone has already learned everything I’m currently learning.”

As with any sport, most athletes have a goal they plan to achieve by the end of their season, and Kunkel is no different.

“My goal is to come out of this season with a winning record and learn as much as I can,” Kunkel said before quitting.

During his short season, Kunkel won nine matches and only lost two. Due to his short season, he was unable to accomplish his goal.

Kunkel has done powerlifting and football, both of which had helped him in wrestling because he gained strength.

“I used to play baseball, run track, and I just finished up my football career this year,” Kunkel said.