2/19/2025
The Concord Academy Chameleons’ wrestling team had a season to remember, clinching a share of the Eastern Independent League (EIL) Championship. Under the leadership of Head Coach Zach Bloom, the Chameleons demonstrated grit, camaraderie, and resilience, overcoming challenges to secure their place at the top of the league.
A Winning Formula: Team Dynamic and Leadership
According to Coach Bloom, the foundation of the team’s success was built on strong leadership and a tight-knit group dynamic. Senior leaders set the tone with their dedication and work ethic, while underclassmen followed their example. The team’s positive chemistry made the daily grind enjoyable, translating into greater commitment on the mat and a willingness to push harder when it mattered most.
“The team dynamic this year made success easy,” Bloom shared. “Everyone on the team likes each other, enjoys practicing and rooting for each other, and that makes improving and ratcheting it up an extra gear on match day easy as well.”
Overcoming Adversity: Practice Space Challenges
While the Chameleons found success, they faced a significant obstacle in terms of practice space. Wrestling requires ample mat time for conditioning, skill refinement, and match preparation, but Concord Academy has historically struggled to provide sufficient room for the entire squad.
“A big problem for us year after year is a lack of practice space,” Bloom explained. “Often, we can only fit a third of our team on the mat at a time, and we also have certain prohibitions that limit our wrestling weeks compared to other teams.”
This season, however, a key adjustment was made. With the help of the school’s Athletic Director, additional practice space was secured on Mondays, and Thursday practices were split into two slots. Though not a perfect solution, it provided valuable opportunities for the wrestlers to train more effectively, helping them stay sharp throughout the season.
Motivation Fueled by Championship Aspirations
Maintaining motivation over the course of a grueling wrestling season can be a challenge, but for the Chameleons, the prospect of an EIL title kept spirits high.
“Keeping the team motivated was actually not much of a problem this year,” Bloom said. “We were competing for the league championship, and the strong team dynamic kept everyone engaged throughout.”
The team’s belief in one another and their common goal ensured that focus never wavered, even when faced with adversity.
The Turning Point: A Gritty Battle Against LCA
Every championship season features defining moments, and for Concord Academy, it came in a hard-fought matchup against Lexington Christian Academy (LCA). Missing key starters and facing unfavorable matchups, the Chameleons were positioned as underdogs, needing clutch performances from their lineup.
“The Battle was a special moment for us,” Bloom recalled. “We had some starters out, the matchups with LCA weren’t ideal, and that put us in a position where we needed some people to really step up and pull out some upsets—and they did.”
That night, several wrestlers delivered when it mattered most, seizing unexpected victories that ultimately helped propel the Chameleons toward their championship goal. The energy in the room was electric, and after that win, the team was confident they could finish the job.
The Power of Individual Growth
While wrestling is a team sport, individual development plays a crucial role in overall success. Coach Bloom emphasized how several wrestlers—many of them relatively new to the sport—made huge strides throughout the season, often putting in extra work to review match footage and refine their technique.
“A bunch of those wrestlers were the ones who pulled out the wins that we ended up needing to secure the league,” Bloom noted.
He also highlighted his role in keeping his athletes focused on growth, even after setbacks.
“As a coach, one of the most important roles I have is keeping my wrestlers’ perspectives confident, but with an eye for how they will see real improvement,” Bloom said. “Each time they lose is a big opportunity to foster that confidence by ensuring that they know they’ll grow from the loss and that afterward, they’ll be in a better position for the next match.”
A Season to Remember
The Concord Academy wrestling team’s journey to an EIL co-championship was a testament to their perseverance, teamwork, and belief in one another. Despite practice space challenges and tough matchups, they found ways to improve and deliver in crucial moments. Thanks to strong leadership, a motivated roster, and a coach who emphasized both individual and collective growth, the Chameleons carved their place in the league’s history.
As they look ahead, the future appears bright for Concord Academy wrestling, with a foundation built on hard work and a culture of support that will continue to drive the program forward.
