Combat sports are one of the largest forms of entertainment today. The infamous Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson fight had 65 million people tune in to watch. The UFC pulls in $1 billion yearly, making fighters like Jon Jones and Conor McGregor into national icons. However, one combat sport does not get nearly what it deserves. Wrestling.
Wrestling is a highly competitive combat sport that shows a battle of physical strength, and mental discipline on a mat. Nevertheless, the public views wrestling unfairly.
Wrestling in Pentucket
The Pentucket Wrestling program has been very successful. Last year saw Captain Tanner Kamuda place in States, and Captain Mason Skinner place in All-States.
This year, Kamuda had his third consecutive first-place medal in the CAL/NEC tournament and is the D3 State Champion. Along with many other team accomplishments and placements, made possible thanks to head coach, Dennis Puleo.
Coach Puleo has been coaching for 55 years, having multiple pupils go to New Englands, the highest tournament for high school wrestling in the area. Before coming to Petucket, Coach Puleo coached in Tewksbury for 3 years, Masconomet for 34 years, then has been the Pentucket coach for the past 21 years.
Besides varsity, the JV team has shown a promising future in their wrestling careers. For example, Louie Martinello, recently became the JV CAL/NEC champion and has shown promise throughout his matches this year. He started wrestling in eighth grade for the River Rivals in Haverhill, before coming to Pentucket. He is one of many of the promising JV wrestlers who will find mass success in their varsity careers.
The Public’s View on Wrestling
When most people think of wrestling, they will think of the WWE. WWE has ruined what the world thinks of wrestling, but folks question if that is a bad thing.
When people think of wrestling, they think of the chair throwing, the RKO, or the cultural icons that came out of wrestling like John Cena and the Rock.
The other people who are aware of wrestling find it uninteresting for crude reasons. What seems to be common knowledge around the wrestling community that their sport is disrespected because of a homophobic stereotype. People all around find the sport weird, with the singlets worn, and the moves that you can do. People discount it because of its appearance from the outside.
One of these people, who wished to stay anonymous, went to a match and said, “I didn’t think this would be as hype. Like it’s still kind of [weird] but it’s super fun to watch.” So this proves the point of people judging the sport by its appearance, without ever giving it a real chance.
Louie Martinello perfectly encapsulates the problem with the public and wrestling, stating, “It’s all personal opinion and the minds of the youth. They will see WWE and think it’s just a joke, and they may think it’s weird due to the outfits and the way the sport goes. May just not find it appealing which is fine for them.”
So I implore that next year since this season is already over, you should go out and watch a wrestling match. Clear your mind of what you thought you knew about the sport, and have a fun time. I cannot guarantee that you will like it, but nothing in life is guaranteed.
