Change is in the air for the Fluco wrestling team, although the feeling isn’t exactly new, considering they are playing under their third coach in three years.  Not just that, but many of their starters have graduated, including All-State wrestler Justin Zimmerman.  Despite these numerous adjustments, the Flucos are very confident that they can compete this season in a tough Jefferson District.

When the long-tenured Craig Connor decided to step down from coaching the team following the 2011 season, the Flucos were slightly taken aback.  At the end of last season, when Coach Dean Hall stopped coaching after just one season, the reaction within the team was slightly different.  “I wasn’t really surprised that he left.  He expected a lot from us, but it just didn’t work out,” said junior Dalton Wenzel.  This year, the Flucos are led by Coach Michael Gore, and they’re hoping he sticks around longer.

Coach Gore, along with teacher Matt Morrison, who is acting as an Assistant Coach, is looking to bring a different approach to the team.  While this season has just begun, the wrestling team believes that Gore is doing a good job so far.  “I really like what Coach has done so far.  It’s probably not easy work to be a first year coach, but we’ve been able to get behind him.  He pushes us to be the absolute best we can be, and he’s very supportive of us. Practices are a bit tougher, but it’s definitely worth it,” said junior Eric Wentz.  For now, Gore seems to be just the change the Flucos needed to succeed.

The Jefferson District has always been tough to win in any sport, and with the district movements that have taken place this season, it just got a lot tougher.  Albemarle and Orange County have joined the new Conference Fluvanna now competes in, and they both have very good teams.  The wrestling team is unfazed by this, however, and they believe that they can still hold their own.  “We don’t think that we’ll be less competitive than past years.  If anything, we’ll work harder to win every match we play in.  So I think it’s actually benefits us to play in a tough division like this,” said 8^th grader Jimmy Dillahunt.  Just because they’ll be the underdog in many meets this season doesn’t mean that they will give up easily.

Although the Flucos have lost some standout wrestlers and are playing under another new coach, they believe that they will find success.  With Gore and Morrison in charge of the team, they will try to perform with better effort than was seen in previous seasons.  “I think we have a good shot at competing in the district this year.  We will definitely surprise a lot of people,” said Wenzel.