Tyler Stark is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Notre Dame Preparatory High School for AZPreps365.com

SCOTTSDALE — Growth has defined the Notre Dame Prep Saints wrestling team this season, but the path to that growth has not come easily.

Faced with injuries, constant adjustments, and a new coaching staff, the Saints have battled more than just the physical demands of wrestling. The season has tested them mentally as well, forcing the team to develop resilience alongside skill.

Still searching for a clear identity, the challenges have produced something more meaningful than wins and losses.

Junior captain Zane Barkemeyer said the transition reshaped the team.

“This season has been a season of growth,” Barkemeyer said. “We added new coaches and changed how we practiced. It pushed all of us to develop individually.”

Early results did not reflect the work being put in each day.

“In our first two meets, I felt like I hit a wall,” he said. “It was frustrating because I knew what I was capable of.”

Unlike many team sports, wrestling leaves little separation between individual performance and team success. Each match is personal, and there is little time to reset between bouts.

Sophomore Braelyn Christie said that pressure is often overlooked.

“The biggest challenge was learning something completely new while dealing with frustration,” Christie said. “People don’t always see how physically and emotionally demanding wrestling is.”

For sophomore Lawson Haarala, an injury sidelined him for half the season, forcing him to stay connected in other ways.

“That was the toughest moment for me,” Haarala said. “But I handled it by leaning on others for support.”

Rather than focusing on results, the Saints shifted their attention to steady improvement.

“When things didn’t go our way, we came back more determined,” Barkemeyer said. “We focused on improving instead of dwelling on losses.”

Head coach Matthew Zismann said that mindset developed over time.

“Early in the season, a lot of athletes struggled emotionally with adversity,” Zismann said. “Over time, those emotions turned into focus and determination.”

That growth has translated into one of the most successful seasons in program history, with multiple tournament medalists across the lineup.

Yet for the team, the most meaningful progress has come from within.

“I’ve seen a group come together as more than just a team,” Zismann said. “They’ve become a family.”

That bond has helped athletes stay grounded, even in defeat. For Barkemeyer, the season has extended beyond performance.

“This season has tested my love for the sport,” he said. “But it’s also helped me grow — not just as a wrestler, but as a person.”