Antonio Castillo Talks Wrestling, Wins, and Motivation
Eisenhower wrestler Antonio Castillo sat down to discuss how his season is going so far and what keeps him motivated. Antonio kept it straightforward, giving simple but strong answers about wrestling, teamwork, and what he is looking forward to accomplishing next. When I asked Antonio how the season has been so far, he said, “The season’s been going really well.” He explained that winning his latest tournament gave him a lot of confidence. “Winning my most recent tournament gave me a big confidence boost,” he said. He also talked about how the whole team is getting better every week and learning how to push themselves harder.
Antonio was also asked how the team is doing overall, and he said, “As a team, we are focused on building consistency, working harder in the room, and showing up strong at districts.” He said the team chemistry is one of the best parts of being in the wrestling room.
“Our team chemistry is solid, we push each other a lot and really sharpen each other up.” According to him, everyone on the team is eager to improve, which makes practice competitive but fun. I also asked Antonio who pushes him the hardest, and he said, “ Probably one of my teammates who wrestles close to my weight class. We practice together a lot, and they never let me take an easy day; they keep me sharp.” He said that having someone close to his skill level keeps him on his toes and makes him better every single practice.
On the personal side, I asked Antonio what the toughest part of wrestling is. He told me, “Honestly, the hardest part is the mental side. Staying disciplined with weight, training, and mindset can be tougher than any match.” He shares that wrestling isn't just physical and that it takes a lot of focus to stay steady throughout the whole season. I then asked what motivates him the most, and he said, "Remembering last year's state run motivates me a lot. I know what it feels like to be on that stage, and I want to get back there and do even better.” He said that experience made him hungry to improve and push himself. Antonio also shared his proudest wrestling achievements. “Winning my most recent tournament is definitely up there,” he said, “but going to state last year is definitely my proudest moment. It proved to me that all the work I put in is paying off.”
With a strong mindset, strong team support, and upcoming accomplishments, Antonio Castillo continues to push himself. His hard work shows he isn't just wrestling to win but also to grow, and the way he talks about wrestling makes it clear this season is only the beginning of what he plans to do.
