Benson Auditorium. For most people throughout the year, it's was usually an empty space that proved to be convenient for the occasional nefarious affair. For others, Benson was a space to escape the daily hustle and bustle of St. Mark's by meditating or doing yoga. For few, Benson was much more than that.
Every winter, the wrestling mats are rolled out and Benson transforms from an empty auditorium to a sanctum for hard work, determination, and perseverance. Until the 2014-2015 school year, Benson had been a second home to wrestlers as it was the ideal location to make memories. Day in and day out, wrestlers have came to Benson to hone their craft and prepare themselves for grueling seasons of wrestling. However, this year brought about a drastic change for wrestlers.
With the construction of the STEM building, the Robotics team needed a new space to continue running their operations. Fortunately for them but unfortunately for the wrestling team, Benson was the only practical place to house Robotics. So what did this mean for the wrestlers? This meant that the 2014-2015 wrestling season would have close ties with the Fay school.
Day in and day out, this seasons wrestlers had to endure shifty travel times, weather conditions, and a shared wrestling room to prepare themselves for the season. Adversity perfectly described the wrestling season as it was filled with a consistent level of it. The biggest issue that continuous travel brought about was that the chemistry that was usually on the wrestling team in previous years was lacking. Before, members of the team would often stay after practice to work on moves or just talk to each other and the coaches. However, this year's various time restraints did not allow the wrestlers to do that and while there was still admirable friendships, it was not comparable to friendships in years past.
While the absence of Benson was difficult, the wrestlers often mentioned appreciating that there was actually a reason for them not to be in the space. The Robotics team has made efficient use of this space and has turned the space into a full on home for their operations. Wrestlers have been grateful that the Robotics team had increased their overall skill level enough to be able to successfully compete at many different tournaments. Once the STEM building is finished, they will be given their own space to continue working hard and continue competing to win.
As the next season approaches, wrestlers will reclaim Benson in order to effectively work towards a better season. The future only holds positive things.
