Sophomore Aaron Moccia is competing in his second year with John Carroll’s wrestling team.

He started his career in wrestling because his mom found a great club wrestling team for him when they lived in Virginia.

Aaron said, “In my high school career, my main goal is to consistently perform well at the state level while continuing to improve my ranking within Maryland. Another of my big goals would be to place at National Preps.”

Aaron talked about how wrestling comes with many challenges, mostly in the mental aspect. Also, wrestling is about pushing through exhaustion and clearing the mind before a match.

“My motivation in wrestling comes from personal goals I have set. Along with this, my coaches’ encouragement and guidance also play a crucial role in my motivation to continue wrestling,” he commented.

He talked about how college wrestling has always interested him because it brings new challenges and opportunities that is beyond the physical aspect.

“Wrestling has taught me determination, not just for my success but also for the team’s,” he said.

“Some accomplishments I have made through wrestling are placing seventh at States and making it into the National Preps tournament where only the top wrestlers from the East Coast are invited,” Aaron said.

Some of the best memories he has made through wrestling are going through the sport with his family, especially when he had an entire season together with his brother.

“My favorite parts about the meets would be testing yourself against other people. Even if you know they are better than you, it feels good to see your improvement over the season,” he concluded.