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The varsity wrestling team won 39-33 against Justice High School on Dec. 18 in its first meet of the season. 

The team won the first two matches by fall to go up 12-0, but as Justice began to win matches, the score evened out. The final match ended up determining the score, resulting in a victory for the Colonials.

“At the beginning, I was thinking that this would be another meet where TJ was just gonna lose again,” sophomore Ahmad Barokah said. “[But] at the very end it was basically dead even and our 195 [got] a pin. No way I thought that would happen.”

The victory came despite adversity stemming from a player’s absence.

“I think we did pretty well at the meet. I was a little worried that we were going to lose,” junior Brianna Ta said. “I was really nervous for this meet because I was going up a weight class since our varsity 113 [wrestler] was sick.”

Jefferson’s triumph marks its first step towards making and getting a high seed at districts this year. 

“Justice is in our district, so how we wrestle against them will determine our seeding at districts.” Ta said. “You want a good seed because that will give you a better chance at winning your matches and getting farther.”