On January 30th, Brentwood celebrated its four seniors on the wrestling team. Although their final season has now ended, there’s no need to stop celebrating them. Read about our 4 senior wrestlers here!
Aoife Mahoney, a new student at BHS this year, played volleyball this fall season and now took on a second sport, wrestling, a sport that is entirely new to her. Mahoney got into wrestling by Coach Abshier and Coach Hughes.
“Everyone’s been encouraging me that I should try it, and Coach Hughes gave me a wrestling shirt, so I was kinda already set,” she said.
“Coach Abshier and I really were hoping Aofie would wrestle, so she could try out something new and make new connections. So I gave her a shirt to welcome her to the family.”
Mahoney really enjoys the new sport, mentioning that it was a good workout, while also being a lot of fun. Her favorite part of wrestling is the people, being able to travel with the team, and going to the Wonder Woman’s tournament. Which is a really big girls’ tournament. It’s held in Columbia, Missouri, and the team, along with Mahoney, went for two days.
“It was such a big and super cool corporation,” said Mahoney. She loved getting the opportunity to talk with the makeup brand ELF which was sponsored by the Wonder Women tournament. “I’ve always been passionate about growing women’s sports and it was really cool to see them also passionate about that as well.” Mahoney would like to thank the people who encouraged her to wrestle during the 2024-2025 season.
Kellie McGee has been wrestling since her freshman year of high school.
“She started as an 87-pound novice and was easily the nicest kid in the school,” said Coach Abshier about McGee at Senior Night. “She’s still the nicest kid in the school but has become super assertive and has even found a delightful mean streak.”
The thing McGee loves the most about wrestling is the community and the fact that she spends a lot of time prepping for a match. One aspect of wrestling that McGee thinks is the most challenging is having the confidence during a match to feel like she knows what she is doing. Some advice McGee would give to someone who wants to start the sport is: “Keep your head up and ask lots of questions along the way because it can get really confusing.”
As just a sophomore, McGee qualified for the state tournament, and although she remembers it as a nice experience, she also remembers being incredibly nervous. This season, McGee will enter the district tournament this Friday with a record of 3 pins and 3 losses. Regardless of how she performs, nothing will change the reputation she carries – of being incredibly respectful, kind and hardworking. “Kellie has never given up on herself, she fights hard at every match,” said Coach Abshier.
Wrestling since his freshman year, senior Phoenix Torno didn’t initially see himself in this position—his original plan was basketball. But when he found himself at odds with the court, Torno turned to wrestling.
“It changed my life,” said Torno. “It changed my work ethic, my determination, and what I consider myself able to do.” Throughout his four years wrestling, Torno attributes the sport to the way he perceives challenges and having the mindset that nothing is impossible. “The time you put in is what you’ll get out,” he said.
The sport can be very damaging to the mind and body; Torno has learned to thrive in the harsh conditions, fighting burnout and other adversaries that come with it; nothing is viewed as impossible, as per Torno. Torno, according to his coaches, is a very determined and aggressive wrestler. Outside of Brentwood Torno plays for TSL, team STL, and Parler Wrestling.
“He’s [Torno] got a strong work ethic. He wants to win. I think it drives him kind of crazy when he doesn’t attain his goals. His kind of attitude, everything only pushes him to work harder,” said assistant wrestling coach, Roy Hughes. The sport can be very damaging to the mind and body; Torno has learned to thrive in the harsh conditions, fighting burnout and other adversaries that come with it; nothing is viewed as impossible, as per Torno. Torno, according to his coaches, is a very determined and aggressive wrestler. Outside of Brentwood Torno plays for TSL, team STL, and Parler Wrestling.
“My proudest moment [in wrestling] isn’t necessarily a win or a loss. It’s the effect that I’ve had on my team and making it a positive environment, to the best of my ability,” says Torno. Despite being a phenomenal wrestler, Torno focuses more on what he brings to the team and how he impacts it dynamic-wise.
“He’s a big role model for everyone. He supports people, especially the freshman,” said junior Ian O’Neal, who is on the team, and is Torno’s wrestling partner during practices. Torno went to state in his sophomore year, but unfortunately, due to a head injury, he was taken out of wrestling and unable to qualify.
The light Torno brings to the team will be dearly missed, Brentwood wishes him well!
Read about Jesse Lane here!
