Student-Athlete of the Week: Vithal Arya

After moving to the United States during his sixth-grade year, Vithal Arya was tasked with learning a culture far different from the one he had experienced growing up in India.

"It's a culture shock because there's not really middle school, high school, it's just K-12, and that's practically every school (in India)," Arya said. "Extracurriculars don't really matter as much as they matter here. In India, schools are basically all for academics. We're not really big on sports. The only big sports we have are cricket and field hockey. It's a culture shock in many ways: how communication works, how you communicate with your friends, how you make friends."

Uncertain about how organized athletics operated in his new country, he avoided sport until his freshman year at Niwot High School. Arya decided he wanted to keep himself active and joining wrestling seemed like a good fit.

Four years have now passed since he first donned a singlet, and a whole new set of expectations arrived when he became a senior.

"It's something that I have been looking forward to," Arya said. "I started wrestling freshman year and I always looked up to my seniors and juniors when they were wrestling. They always set the example for me of how the team was supposed to be led."

However, Arya was previously hesitant as to whether to wrestle this winter. He didn't anticipate a successful season for himself since it had been an adversity-filled time for him. But after a conversation with his head coach Bobby Matthews, he was persuaded to stay on the team. Arya enlisted in the U.S. Navy in August and Matthews believed that wrestling another year would be beneficial to those future plans.

Arya's decision was confirmed on Dec. 10 when he reached the 165-pound quarterfinals at the Wheat Ridge Invitational. He entered the meet still uncertain whether he should continue wrestling, but his strong performance, which included a second-round win, was enough to renew his passion.

"I just want to make the best out of this year," Arya said. "I know I'm no state champ, I know I'm not the best of the best. I want to make my final year the best, I want to enjoy my time. I'm not going to take losses to my heart, I'm not going to take wins to my head. I'm just going to enjoy the time I have with my teammates."

His teammates are also glad to have Arya around for a little longer. Junior Gavin Burrage, in particular, is grateful for the impact Arya has had on him. "Seeing him progress not only in wrestling but as a person inspires me to do the same," Burrage said.