To the untrained eye, wrestling looks like a scramble of limbs and headgear. To Senior Sal Sorrentino, it’s a high-speed game of human chess. Every snap-down is a calculated move; every shot is a gamble, calculated and thought out for the chance of a final checkmate or pin in the wrestling match. Sorrentino currently wrestles for the Fauquier High School (FHS) Varsity wrestling team and has reached 100 wins in his time with FHS.

Sorrentino’s passion for wrestling started long before his freshman year of high school. In Sorrentino’s eighth-grade year, he played football, and one of his football coaches was the head coach of the FHS wrestling team. This coach convinced Sorrentino to come and try out for the wrestling team, and he has been wrestling ever since.

Ever since that fateful day, Sorrentino’s been wrestling for five years for the FHS team. Sorrentino enjoys being on the team not only for the sport itself but also for the friendships he makes during the wrestling season.

Sorrentino stated that “It’s more than just a team … I feel like it’s a family.” He continued, “We’re all really close. We hang out outside of sports.”

Some of Sorrentino’s favorite memories from the many seasons are from the bus rides and the nights that he gets to spend with his teammates during and after tournaments.

Wrestling is one of the fastest-growing sports in America today, though it’s not all fun; it requires a lot of hard work. Sorrentino voiced, “I’d say it’s both very mentally and physically challenging … it’s one of the hardest things I’ve done.”

When Sorrentino has a difficult match, he always remembers that his record does not really matter until he gets to regionals or states. Even when Sorrentino has a particularly rough match at regionals or states, he tries to wrestle back and finish third, stating, “I’d rather get third than get second.” Many athletes also agree with Sorrentino’s opinion on this matter.

One of Sorrentino’s favorite parts about getting to wrestle is that wrestling is more of an individual sport than a team sport.

“It’s just you and one other person … all of your results and other things are because of yourself.” He added, “I like that I don’t have to rely on anybody else to depend on during a match … It’s just me versus the other person.”

While that part of the sport could freak most people out, Sorrentino rather enjoys making his own decisions without worrying about other people on his team whose decisions could affect him.

As much as Sorrentino enjoys wrestling, he is not out to write, and he is looking to continue his wrestling career in college. Though if Sorrentino gets an opportunity to continue to wrestle, he will take it. Although he is not sure whether he will continue wrestling, Sorrentino is going to college for Electrical Engineering and is currently considering Virginia Tech and Penn State.

Sorrentino has had an excellent wrestling career with the FHS wrestling team. With many ups and downs, his high school career is slowing to a stop, though not without the huge accomplishment of reaching his 100th win, which he achieved during states on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. Sorrentino has a bright future ahead of him, whether he chooses to continue wrestling or pursue something else; FHS will continue to support and anticipate what Sorrentino cooks up next.