By: Siyona Singhal and Tori Schubert

Humor Editor and People Editor

Senior, standout athlete, and recipient of the Scholar Athlete Award Ojas Shastri is wrapping up his final year of high school, committing to the University of Pennsylvania. He is planning to further his athletic path as a Division 1 wrestler.

Shastri began his sports career in basketball, and when he discovered it was not his strong suit, he switched to wrestling in sixth grade. He was inspired by his older brother and wanted to build a better connection with him. Shastri finds motivation through seeing personal progress: “You can be better on one day and worse on another, but as long as you can see yourself in an upward trajectory, it’s motivating.” Shastri plays on a club team and the LGHS Varsity Wrestling Team. He described the team environment as “uplifting guys that each have similar goals, and mindful focus. Our coaches’ belief in us that we are one of the best teams in the state of California and even in the nation is what helps us proceed and keep going.” 

Shastri explained that wrestling is a unique sport because, paired with its physical strain, a player’s mind plays an important role: “You figure out how to deal with pressure when it’s you against someone else, and there’s not a team you can fall back on, even though it is considered a team sport. It’s your decisions, your choices, and the actions that you do before the match, during practice, all define your outcome.” In terms of the pressure he faces during matches, Shastri commented that he is still working on developing effective strategies, but what works best for him is self-talk and reminding himself that a wrestling match does not define him. He also credited his coach, Greg Varela, for instilling the principle that effort matters more than anything else. 

Beyond athletics, Shastri has taken a rigorous course load throughout high school. He described the difficulties of taking care of himself during the season while balancing such a hectic schedule, emphasizing the necessity for time management and productivity. Shastri reflected, “Wrestling has taught me to work hard, to have grit, and not to let things slip. That keeps me on top of my workload.” His drive and determination are reflected in both wrestling and academic performance, earning Shastri the Scholar Athlete award. This was announced following his success in CCS, after he placed first in his weight class, alongside his recent commitment to an Ivy League university.

Shastri is committed to the University of Pennsylvania, planning to pursue the Management & Technology dual-degree program in Engineering and Business. Driving his decision was the opportunity to wrestle on a Division 1 team, in addition to the multitude of academic opportunities that the school offers. His brother also attends the university as a member of the wrestling team. Shastri was intrigued by the opportunity to follow in his brother’s footsteps and compete alongside him. 

Shastri’s advice for rising wrestlers is to “stick with it. Wrestling doesn’t require a certain height; it doesn’t require you to be fast or anything like that. It just requires you to put in the work, put in the effort, and be willing to learn and be willing to go through some tough times and see the light at the end of the tunnel, and that’s always the most rewarding thing.” As Shastri concludes his high school career, LGHS will surely miss his presence.