Written By: Bella Wise & Lillian Pereira

Last year held an incredible season for our Varsity Wrestling program here at Rye Country Day. Students Rhodes Boester ‘24 and Harry Moss ‘26 managed to score medals at the 2024 NYSAIS Tournament; third and fourth, respectively. This year, the whole school waits in anticipation to see how Head Coach Rich Knazik and Assistant Coach Hidalgo Nagashima will help their team achieve victory. 

The Wildcats are stepping onto the mat this season with excitement and an expanded roster of fifteen wrestlers, led by captains Luke Stronski ‘25, Joe Rafferty ‘26, and Harry Moss ‘26. After a challenging season last year, the captains are optimistic about the upcoming season, with a major goal of obtaining a winning record and strong performances at the NYSAIS tournament. “We want to win at least 70% of our matches on the mat this year,” said Stronski, highlighting the importance of filling all weight classes to avoid the forfeits that negatively impacted their record last season. Rafferty echoed this and added that the team could perform better at the NYSAIS tournament after recent underwhelming results. Moss says there are many promising contenders to send to the New York State tournament, such as Kenji Clark ‘29.

The captains all emphasized that the critical challenge last season was the forfeits. “We wrestled well individually but lacked the numbers and experience to close out matches as a team,” Rafferty explained. This year, with a roster consisting of mainly younger wrestlers in eighth and ninth grade, the team is planning on turning things around. 

Preparation for the season has been different for each player: some team members participated in off-season wrestling programs, Jiu-Jitsu, and other sports such as cross-country and football. Practices are typically meant to improve both technique and resilience. “We start with warm-ups, work on paired techniques, and then do more intense, game-like challenges before finishing with conditioning and speed recognition drills,” Moss explained. 

Despite the individual nature of wrestling, the captains stressed the team’s growth as a whole. Usually through exhibitions, they often prioritize giving younger wrestlers match experience. “If individuals succeed, the team succeeds,” Rafferty noted. 

The captains are eager for new members to join the program. Stronski encouraged wrestlers to approach every match with confidence, while Rafferty emphasized the importance of perseverance through early challenges. 

These Wildcats have a busy season ahead, participating in seven regular matches against schools such as Hopkins, GCDS, and Dalton. The team is thrilled to participate in prominent events, including the Martin Luther Invitational, three Tri-Matches, and the Westchester County Championship. On a state-wide level, the Wildcats will compete in nearly all major tournaments, with games scheduled in the FAA Dual Team Championship, the NYSAIS Championship, and the NYS Federation Championship. Fans who are eager to support the Wildcats can catch Wrestling’s season opener against Dalton School at Rye Country Day on December 6th.   

With high hopes for a season that matches or exceeds last year’s success, the RCDS community is ready to cheer them on. Go Wildcats!