Falcon winter sports start up

It smelled like winter at South Whidbey High School Monday afternoon.

No, the giveaway scent was not the cold, crisp sensation of coming frost or snowflakes. Rather it was the smell of sweat mixed with wood floor polish and the heavy rubber smell of wrestling mats.

Pre-season training started Monday for the boys basketball, girls basketball and wrestling teams at the high school. And with that start, the athletes started working out the kinks of several months off, or in the case of athletes who competed during the fall, made the muscular transition to indoor competition.

In the school gym, a small but intense group of varsity girls got off to a sweaty start with basic fitness and ball handling drills, and an aggressive game of 3-on-3. First-year varsity coach John Pyrtek said he could tell early in the practice that the girls needed the conditioning.

“There was some looking for the water fountain earlier than I had anticipated,” he said.

In the wrestling room, everyone and everything seemed drenched in sweat.

Training for the South Whidbey High School wrestlers was basic — it meant getting on the mat and straining every muscle.

Just before rejoining the wrestling after a brief break Monday, senior Tyler Rueth described the workout as tough. Employing several cardiovascular exercises, he said the wrestlers were learning the basics of wrestling, including shots and elevation changes.

Play for the boys basketball season starts on Nov. 30 against Coupeville. The team’s first home game is on Dec. 3 against Eatonville.

The girls team opens the season Nov. 30 at Coupeville. The squad’s first home opponent is Vashon Island on Dec. 3.

The wrestling season gets a later start, against Bellingham Dec. 7 on the road. The first home meet is Dec. 14.

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