Over 90% of student athletes experience stress and anxiety, according to a 2023 article in Health Psychology Research. 

And another article from 2019 by Psychology Today states many different coping mechanisms are effective for stress and anxiety, but listening to music or podcasts has the best results. 

Several wrestlers use this to help them have success on the mat. 

“Listening to podcasts gets me into the right mood,” junior Kaden Meyer said. 

Scientists have found that when student athletes listen to music or podcasts when experiencing strong emotions it helps them control or calm themselves.

 “I listen to ‘Thunderstruck’ every time before I wrestle,” senior Robbie Murphy said. 

Everyone has a superstition that they have or do. Murphy likes listening to ‘Thunderstuck’ to get him pumped for practice or a meet.

“Losing a match is terrible, but getting back up and going to the next match and winning that one really brings up my spirit,” Meyer said 

While all this physical and mental training these boys are pushing through it is all worth it when they win a match and get to add another win to Minooka’s record.

“One of my favorite music genres to listen to before wrestling is hip-hop or rap,” junior Jacob Baker said. 

Baker likes listening to Drake to pump him up, while Justin Majewski loves to listen to Lil Baby before a meet.

Rap or hip-hop is one of the Minooka varsity wrestling teams favorite music genres. This music gets them pumped and ready for practice or meets. 

“It helps me during wrestling and helps me focus, also hyped up for my match,” junior Justin Majenski said. 

Music helps everyone get focused when they are stressed. It’s especially helpful for wrestling because a lot is on the line. If they lose a match they have to move onto the next right after, so they need to regain focus and in the right mindset.