“Our bus driver got sick so we had to leave early, but we still got third in the Texas tournament,” said Douglas Matthews in the 170 weight class.

The Wildcat Wrestling has been traveling out of state more than usual this season. The wrestlers have travled to states like Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri. According to wrestlers, traveling out of state is harder competition, but it makes them better.

“I think it’s all worth it,” said Nick Smith in the 195 weight class. “Since there is so much more competition out of state and Arkansas is a new to wrestling, it makes the team better because we’re wrestling people we haven’t wrestled before and there is better competition.”

Smith went 7-0 in the Texas tournament. Matthews went 6-1 and went 2-0 in the duel match in Missouri; Smith didn’t travel with the team to Missouri. The Wildcats overall won the first duel and lost the other in a nail biting tiebreaker loss.

“Traveling out of state is pretty hard. I mean giving my weekend up isn’t that big of a deal if it’s going to help us get that State Championship,” said Douglas Matthews.

Traveling out of state has its cons as well. Sure, facing tougher competition makes you better, but you also risk getting injured due to the competition being so difficult. It also affects the amount of time some of the wrestlers have for studying for tests and doing homework.

“It can be a hassle, physically and mentally, traveling a lot we are more prone to injuries,” said junior Jesse Weir in the 160 weight class. “But I like it’s better than wrestling in state teams five times a year.”