The Fremont Firebirds wrestling program has annually been one of the top teams in the Central Coast Section. Fremont has maintained a top-5 finish in the CCS year after year.
And it’s not just the boys getting it done; Fremont has had one of the strongest complements of girls wrestling each season. Back in 2018 and 2019, Melissa Lee finished first in CCS in her weight class. And this year, for the first time in many years, the Firebirds have a returning state placer in Aila Duus.
“She’s tough; we haven’t had a returning state placer in a long time, maybe 15 years or so; she’s a hammer,” praised Fremont Head Coach and proud father, Erik Duus. “She’s an all-around athlete, too. She just finished cross country, and she’s on a competitive surf team.”
The highly competitive senior knows she will now have a target on her back this season.
“I definitely feel different from last year. Last season, I was just trying to make a name for myself. I didn’t really have any expectations. But this year, after placing at state, it kind of makes me a little nervous since people know me now,” noted Aila Duus. “People you beat last season want that revenge, and I always think that’s a strong feeling when you’re wrestling someone.”
The younger Duus acknowledges that she can lean on the support of such a strong program and supportive teammates.
“It pushes you to work harder to keep that reputation for your team,” responded the senior when asked about being part of such a storied program. “Our coaches always say, ‘You’re only as strong as your weakest teammate’, so it kind of creates an environment where we all are pushing each other. Encourage each other to work harder.”
Working just as hard on the boys’ side is junior Jameson Moore, who is coming off a fourth place finish in CCS last season.
“He was right on the bubble of going to state and that was as a sophomore. He’s incredibly hungry,” remarked coach Duus. “He does all the extra stuff in the gym in the offseason.”
Moore knows that extra work is necessary now that he is also a known commodity.
“Last year, as a sophomore, nobody really knew me, so I was just trying to make an impression,” said Moore. “This year, being one of those guys [the hunted rather than the hunter] just means I have to work even harder every day to make sure they don’t beat me.”
It’s long been difficult for Fremont’s opponents to beat the Firebirds. Just how does the program maintain its strength year over year?
“The kids work hard, the coaches work hard,” remarked coach Duus. “We just really believe in what we are doing. It drives us to stay this passionate and involved. We have seen what it has done for kids in the past.
“I’m not doing this just for wrestling and to win at all costs,” continued Duus. “Sure, I want them to win, but what I really want is for them to learn values and a work ethic that will make them successful later on in life. How to work hard, how to persevere when things aren’t going your way.
“That’s why we do this, not just to teach them how to win, but to teach them to be strong people and do the right thing,” said Duus. “We are using wrestling to make better people, and as a byproduct, we have a successful program.”