Press Box Player of the Week: Javier Frias

 Javier Frias, a freshman at Hartford High School, and a member of the Hartford Husky wrestling team this winter, is the Tri-City Record Press Box Player of the Week for Jan. 18, 2024.

 Javier was nominated by his current coaching staff, including head coach, Matthew Nilson, as despite the difficulties to adjusting to high school competition as a young athlete (especially as a ninth

grader) to begin the season, he has continued to work hard in the wrestling room to improve, which will benefit not only himself, but his team. As many know, wrestling is considered one of the most physically demanding sports out there. Wrestlers need to have endurance, skill and strength to compete at peak performance, and sometimes, it takes time to develop those characteristics.

 Case in point, Javier suffered eight straight losses to begin his freshman campaign, all by fall, but it must be said that seven of those losses were to upper-class man, including four to seniors. However, in a recent meet, on Thursday, Jan. 11, he broke through with his first victory of the 2023-24 season. He alphaed during the preseason and typically wrestles at 190 pounds but bumped up to 215 pounds for the Huskies conference dual against Cassopolis, where he defeated senior, Dakota Redmond by pin in 1:08. The team was proud of him for this big achievement and hopes it is a sign of things to come, as they compete for conference and postseason glory.

 In addition to wrestling, Javier also participated in junior varsity football this past fall and will be a member of the track and field team in the spring. He played on the offensive and defensive lines for a team that finished with an 8-1 record and was named as the most improved player of the freshman

class. In the classroom, he takes his studies seriously, as he currently carries all A’s and B’s.

 Javier, we congratulate you on your achievements thus far in wrestling and look forward to what you and your teammates will accomplish the remainder of the season!