Ranked in the top of the San Diego Section and one of the top wrestlers in all of California, along with being a CIF finalist and City League champion for the 157 weight class, Senior Alexander Lin is the undeniable Male Athlete of the Month.

   Lin started wrestling his sophomore year and quickly became a star wrestler. “I did it because I knew [Seniors] Christian Legler and Carlos Garcia were friends of mine on the team and I wanted to join them,” said Lin.

   “What got me into wrestling was a combination of the fact that I loved grappling and my friends. I’ve always been involved in some sort of combat sport in my life, and wrestling had the added benefit of being able to compete alongside my friends,” Lin said. He added, “I’ve never really been good at any other sports. But martial arts and other combat sports always seemed to hit home for me.” Over the years, Lin has practiced Judo, Muay Thai, and some Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

   Legler said, “I’ve known Alex since middle school, but we really grew together our sophomore year through wrestling when he joined the team.” He added, “Alex has a great work ethic and is always seeking opportunities to get better.” 

   “Without Alex, the team dynamic would be a lot different. He is one of the key leaders on the team and you can see how the other wrestlers in the room look up to him…. He can be hard on people, but it’s because he knows that if we train hard now it will pay off on game day,” said Legler.

   Lin said, “My favorite thing about wrestling is throwing. I’m sort of known for my throws on the team, and there’s nothing more satisfying to me in the sport of wrestling than launching a kid through the air, straight onto his back.”

   One of his greatest strengths as a wrestler is keeping calm during matches. “When things get heated during a match, I’ve gotten pretty good at looking at the situation and adapting as needed,” said Lin.

   But like any good athlete, he still seeks to improve in certain areas. Lin stated, “What I’m working to improve on is my cardio. Cardio was my downfall last year, so this year I’m looking to change that.”

   Lin recalled one of his most memorable matches, occurring his junior year in the semifinals of the San Diego City Tournament. “I was matched up against Mira Mesa, a team I had never beaten before. I was 0-2 against Mira Mesa, and I was hungry to finally get a win. After a long three-period war, I was down 5-13 and ended up pinning the kid in the third period. Everyone in attendance went crazy when I pinned him. It was definitely my most memorable match,” he said.

   He has received many accolades in his years of wrestling and only seeks to achieve more in his final year competing. “I’m currently ranked among the top 60 wrestlers in California. I’m also in the top 3 in the San Diego section. I’m a CIF finalist and city finalist,” said Lin. “I haven’t set any records yet, but I am looking to become UC’s first CIF champ in a while. It’s been a long time since a UC High wrestler won CIFs, and I was really close to doing so last year,” he added.

   If you see Lin around campus, he most likely has a Polaroid camera in hand, taking pictures of every memorable moment he has with his friends and family. “I love taking Polaroid pictures. It’s one of my hobbies that I love to do,” said Lin.

   Every athlete has a reason to continue playing. Lin’s drive and passion for the sport are what keep him involved. “What keeps me in the sport is the love I have for it. I really do just love wrestling, and that keeps me in it,” he said.