Those kids with bleached hair in the hallway don’t just do it for fun, they’re part of the Bowie wrestling team, a diverse hearty bunch of people, which are the best in the state.

 
“Every year our kids die their hair blonde,” Wrestling coach Spike Fogle said “It’s been a tradition since 2003 every time we go to state the bleach comes out.”

 
Wrestling isn’t just the showboating and table breaking you see on TV; it’s one of the most rigorous, and demanding sports out there.

 
“I want people to know wrestling isn’t just a sport,” Fogle said “It’s a lifestyle, you’ve got to keep your eye on everything.”

 
Wrestlers constantly have to watch their weight, keeping a tighter eye on the scale than fashion models.
“You don’t just take a couple hours for wrestling,” Fogle said “It’s all day every day, you have to watch your weight under a microscope, watch what you eat, even your water intake counts.”
Senior Nathan Martin, who recently placed first in the Capital Classic, district, and qualified for state, also has a passion for wrestling.

 
“Wrestling is the best sport hands down,” Martin said “I play football too and wrestling pays off more for me and means a lot more as well.”

 
To train for wrestling, like other sports you have to go through hours of intensive activities repeating and mastering that one single  technique that could get you the win the championships.
“Just like basketball or football we have to train the same holds and positions over and over again,” Fogle said ”It’s a very physical sport and takes a lot of stamina and patience.”

 
Junior Stefan Moreno, one of the best wrestlers in the school and state, has qualified for state three times and placed twice in recent years, taking 3rd this year and holding a 40-4 record.
“Stefan is one of our best wrestlers,” Fogle said “We’ve got 14 guys and 10 girls, and he is one of the most talented I’ve trained.”

 
Martin, who is in the 182lbs weight class, says he trains and focuses harder on wrestling than his other sports, and it pays off.

 
“I love wrestling, it does make you have to watch your weight and what you eat and drink,” Martin said “But you get super strong and in great physical condition.”

 
Martin also has great respect to Moreno, even admitting that Moreno is a better wrestler.
“Stefan is the best wrestler I know,” Martin said “He is definitely better than me, he’s a really great guy too.”
Fogle has been coaching for the past four years and earns more respect from his students every day.
“Coach Fogle is super cool,” Martin said “He’s one of my favorite coaches and I respect him a lot for putting up with us.”

 
Fogle, who has been coaching here at Bowie for four years, actually started out in these same halls.
“I wrestled here at Bowie when I went here,” Fogle said “It’s a great place and I’m glad to be teaching these kids what I know.”

 
Martin had a 21-5 record, Alex Curtis a 36-10 record, and Grace Lemm a 20-8 record, all of who qualified for state.
The team has qualified for state ever since 1998, and had students place since 1999, recently winning first at the Varsity Rough Rider Invitational and fifth at the Capital Classic.

 
The annual wrestling banquet was held on March 30th and featured food, laughs, and a roast-style comedy club.