Girls wrestling grows at Bronx Science

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Sosara Ma has had a very busy semester and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Her daily routine begins with a 90-minute train ride from her Queens home to the prestigious Bronx High School of Science, continues with a full day of challenging academics the school is known for and continues well into the evening with her extracurricular activities before the arduous subway ride back home and a full night of homework.

Oh, those after-school activities? We’re not talking chess club or band practice. Try wrestling, as Ma is the senior captain of what has quickly turned into one of the finest girls’ wrestling programs in the city.

“It’s pretty difficult balancing it all,” Ma said. “On an average night, I have about four and a half to five hours of sleep because commuting takes a while. It takes me about an hour and a half from Bronx Science to get home. It’s hard to maintain but if you focus and you spend your time wisely, then it’s not that difficult. I do work on the train ride home or whenever I have free periods in school. But it’s worth it because I love wrestling.”

Ma came to the sport late as Bronx Science’s girl’s program was born just last season. While many of her teammates have a helpful background in karate or judo, Ma does not. So why the attraction to such a physical sport?

“It was kind of a challenge for me,” Ma said. “I enjoy individual sports teams. Soccer is more of a group sport and you have to rely on other teammates. But with sports like golf or wrestling, it’s important what you do individually. So I think that’s what drew me in. I like to rely on myself where I realize my potential and to do what I need to do to win.”

When coach Chris Smith arrived at Bronx Science in 2009, the boys’ wrestling team was not what you would call a success story and the girls’ program was four seasons away from being formed. But slowly Smith built strong boys’ programs, which eventually featured a handful of girls, too. Before long, the girls’ program was spawned.

Sosara Ma, Bronx Science, Chris Smith, PSAL, wrestling, Sean Brennan
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