As the OHS Wrestling team gears up for state, they are hoping for success. With just a few days to go, the Tigers are preparing to take home the gold.

With Districts this weekend (Feb. 11-12 at Northwest High School) and state just a week after on Feb. 17, the Tigers are doing anything but taking it easy. Since the team is in extensive training, they hope some of their members will place at state.

“We are working really hard for districts and we are looking at getting five state qualifiers,” OHS wrestling coach Brett Lieberoff said.

Currently the five members who have the biggest shot at state are Jon Bromeier (10) with a record of 9-8, Brandon Brown (12) with a record of 31-12, Matt Jackson (12) with a record of 19-18, Dan Suda (12) with a record of 21-19 and Jimmy Broderick (10) with a record of 19-17.

Throughout the season there have been a number of injuries that have hurt the team. But the injury that had the biggest influence on the team, according to Lieberoff, was Conner Woods(12) breaking his leg at the Mascoutah Tournament on Dec. 18.

“Connor is a senior so his career is over,” Lieberoff said. “He was really starting to wrestle well and we hate to lose him that way.”

Woods explains that during the match he turned his leg and everything twisted, causing his left fibula to snap in half.

“I had to get a three inch plate and seven screws in my leg so it would heal,” Woods said.

But Woods is more concerned about not being able to wrestle his last year at OHS then breaking a bone.

“Being out your senior year really sucks,” Woods said. “I was very upset when I found out it was broken and I couldn’t wrestle. I did cry.”

Although the injury restricted him from wrestling, Woods will still be at districts and state cheering on the team.