Mountlake Terrace senior Daniil Oliferovskiy sat across a school hallway from a table full of cupcakes and other baked goods recently but didn’t make a move toward them.
“This year I’m looking to eat healthy and not get bogged down by all this junk food,” Oliferovskiy said.
The senior is a member of the Hawks wrestling team that begins its 2014-15 season on Thursday, Dec. 4, with a double dual match at Arlington High School. The Hawks will be grappling against the Arlington Eagles and the Everett Seagulls in the season opener beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Oliferovskiy returns to the wrestling mat after a junior year that culminated with a state championship meet qualification in the 152-pound weight class last February. He’ll likely move up a class and wrestle at 160 pounds this year with hopes of ending the season with another trip to Mat Classic.
“My goal is the same as it always has been, making the drive to win state,” Oliferovskiy said.
Long practices on the wrestling mat, strength conditioning and healthier eating habits are all parts of the equation that the senior hopes will help him reach his goals for the season. “It becomes a lifestyle for three months,” he said.
Returning for his second year as head coach of the Hawks will be Grant Thompson, a move that Oliferovskiy supports. “We know his wrestling style and what he’s going to teach,” Oliferovskiy said. “It’s not a whole new crash course of new stuff at you. There’s a lot more comfortableness this year.”
The Hawks will be tested with some key matches early in the season. Following Thursday’s opener, the team will be part of the 19-team Edmonds Invite on Saturday, Dec. 6, at Edmonds-Woodway High School. Then on Tuesday, Dec. 9, Mountlake Terrace will face the state’s No. 4 ranked 3A squad, Marysville-Pilchuck, in a double dual at Meadowdale High School.
Mountlake Terrace’s first home match is set of Thursday, Dec. 11, against the Glacier Peak Grizzlies.
To view the entire MTHS 2014-2015 wrestling team schedule, click https://www.wescoathletics.com/index.php?league=3&page_name=game_schedule&school=40&sport=4.
– By Doug Petrowski
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