The gym air was thick with sweat, the roar from the crowd traveled around the building, vibrating the walls. The lights shine harshly down on athletes, blinding them as they fight to bring the other to the mat. A sharp whistle cuts through the air and reaches their ears. Ethan Frost has won his match.
Frost is senior, first-time captain for Bowie Wrestling. He has been a part of the program for all four years earning multiple achievements like advancing to state. Although Frost dedicates a huge amount of time to Bowie’s Wrestling Program, he also competes outside of school.
“Outside of school I wrestle for 3F Wrestling club which has given me a lot of opportunities to get better,” Frost said. “I get to wrestle with some tough guys, and get more variety in my coaching.”
Frost trains for wrestling almost every day, whether it be during school, after school, or before school. According to his teammates, this goes far, and represents him as a person.
“Ethan reflects positivity and I can tell that his teammates respect him,” head wrestling coach Tyson Dobinsky said. “They respect him and his work ethic, and it shows a lot that all of his teammates chose him to be captain unanimously.”
Frost concentrates fully during practice which, according to Dobinsky, goes a long way with his teammates who see this and want to raise their level also. The shared expectations of the team keep everyone on the same page.
“Everyone in Bowie Wrestling holds each other accountable,” Frost said. “Everyone has their own individual goals that they want to achieve.”
According to Dobinsky, the team’s feeling of responsibility was, to some extent, shaped by the fact that Frost is the team leader and by the nature of wrestling practices that demand concentration, self-control, and partner-based drills. The players feed off the energy that Frost has, resulting in them having a training environment that is more orderly and disciplined.
“The environment at Bowie Wrestling is very intense and mentally challenging but it’s encouraging,” junior wrestler Quinn Loyd said. “It makes you want to work hard and it makes you feel rewarded for working hard.”
As meets come closer, the preparation of each person turns out to be a very essential part of the competition. Frost prepares himself by being very focused and concentrating before the game so that during the game, he can be calm.
“Last season we had a really solid lineup and we took four guys to state with one girl being an alternate,” Frost said. “I think that all our wrestlers this year are ready to achieve more and push themselves harder.”
According to Dobinsky, leadership roles have been a key factor in the team’s success. Being the captain, Frost is instrumental in establishing the behavior norms of the wrestlers both on and off the mat, for instance, during the practice, he motivates them to increase their self assurance.
“One of the things Ethan has done that is important to the team is that since the beginning of last year he has found a positive insight in himself, he thinks everything he does is awesome so he kind of shows that for other people,” Dobinsky said. “He has really worked on his leadership through the years and that has made an impact on his teammates.”
Frost’s progress in his confidence and skills has changed his role as a captain in the program from a freshman who lacked skill to an advanced wrestler who went to state last year.
“As a leader I have an opportunity to push myself and the other wrestlers around me in an impactful way to be the hardest working and best versions of themselves,” Frost said. “Any success that they find individually is entirely up to and depends on them.
Frost has grown with the program and according to Dobinsky, is a key part of their success this season. However, he has not always been the team’s key player.
“Ethan as a freshman was not the most athletic kid, he was not the best wrestler,” Dobinsky said. “Every year he has transformed himself into the best athlete, the best wrestler, and the best person.”
Frost has worked closely with his coaches to help him improve over the years. They have been able to see his progression every day since freshman year.
“Bowie wrestling got me into the sport,” Frost said. “I wouldn’t be where I am without it and the coaching and environment is just another opportunity to get better at wrestling and push my limits.”
Bowie’s foundation has not only shaped his physicality, but his mentality. According to Dobinsky, he has become more involved in the sport and now it is a key part of his life.
“Ethan is a really great captain, leader, and he is the most committed person I know,” Loyd said. “He eats, sleeps, breathes wrestling, it is his passion and he is really good at it.”
