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The Saint Ignatius Wrestling Team
By: Charlie Gerami
Senior Melson Ngassa is a spectacular leader and major contributor to the Saint Ignatius Varsity Wrestling team. As the Wolfpack finish the regular season, the team will rely on Ngassa as they head into State. The team has high expectations after last year’s achievements.
The team recently captured a team regional championship after producing seven different individual wrestlers who won regionals. This led to a spot in the team sectionals.
Ngassa said the success has raised expectations for this team and the program. Ngassa, a team player at heart, enjoys both his personal success with individual sectionals, and wants to put this program in a good place for the future and leave his legacy with the Wolfpack program.
The team’s pathway to state will be challenging.
“We recently had seven individual regional champions, allowing the team to win the team regional championship. If we beat ICCP, the team goes down to state,” said Ngassa. ICCP is a top team in the state.
Ngassa’s confidence and leadership from years of experience on the mat will be key to the Wolfpack’s post season success.
Ngassa began wrestling as early as third grade and competed up to sixth grade, winning three city championships and only losing once.
Due to COVID-19, Ngassa did not wrestle in seventh and eighth grade but he was a 4 year varsity wrestler at Saint Ignatius.
“The thing that motivates me is having my name up on the board in the second floor gym,” Ngassa said. “The board is for state wrestlers and CCL tournament winners.”
Ngassa came close to that goal, finishing second in CCL tournament as a freshmen. He later reached it as a junior by qualifying for state. Since then, he also has earned 100 career wins.
“Physically, my body is the best shape it’ll ever be in,” Ngassa said.
Before Ngassa’s matches, he stays focused and scouts out the advantages and disadvantages of his opponents. As the number 1 seed, Ngassa needs to hold his ground at all costs.
Wrestling is considered as one of the toughest sports out there challenging you mentally, emotionally, and physically all at the same time and Ngassa says you need a good mindset.
As Dan Gable, legendary wrestler said “Once you’ve wrestled, everything in life is easy.”
Photos from the Saint Ignatius Wrestling Team Instagram celebrating Melson’s 100th career win.
