Cooper Carling made the finals at Joe Rios and finished in the top 12 at Zinkin last season. The Ponderosa High School wrestler, who competes at 132 and 138 pounds, also finished in the top 12 at the Sac-Joaquin Masters Tournament. That result left him short of his goal of qualifying for state. This season, he wants to earn his spot and place.
Carling entered last season after tearing his meniscus in the offseason and undergoing surgery in August. He continued to wrestle while dealing with pain and said there were times when he knew he couldn’t perform at his best. Between the injury and the disappointment at Masters, Carling said he learned a lot about himself physically and mentally. Missing state gave him more motivation to improve.
Through the highs and lows, Carling leaned on his family, coaches, and the people closest to him. Their support helped him through the season and gave him opportunities to travel to national tournaments, where he faced some of the best wrestlers in the country. Having people who believe in him and support his goals has meant as much to him as the chance to compete.
The state podium is Carling’s immediate target. Longer term, he wants to win a state title and return to national tournaments with the goal of placing and eventually winning one. Last season showed him how much work those goals will take, and he’s carrying that experience into his next run at state.
