Writing the First Chapter: Wassef and Holloway Lead Tomas Wrestling Forward

When Gene Tomas High School opened this fall, there was no roadmap for what success was supposed to look like. No banners hung in the gym. No alumni stories to point to. For the wrestlers who chose to step onto the mat in year one, everything would be built in real time.

By the end of the season’s first district tournament, two of those wrestlers — Daniel Wassef and Colt Holloway — had already etched their names into school history as Tomas High School’s first-ever district champions.

For a brand-new program, that achievement wasn’t just surprising — it was foundational.

Making Something Out of Nothing

Both Wassef and Holloway understood early that joining Tomas wrestling meant uncertainty. The team was new. There were no traditions to lean on, no older teammates to follow, and no expectations outside of what they were willing to build themselves.

“Everyone overlooked us,” Holloway said. “They didn’t think much of us. But we kept pursuing.”

Holloway brought years of experience into the room, having wrestled since the age of five and trained at Gracie Barra. Even with that background, the challenge was different this time. There were no traditions to lean on, no older teammates to follow.

“Since we’re new, no one knows what’s gonna happen with our program and how good it can become,” he said. “That’s what makes it cool.”

Wassef’s path was different. He arrived at Tomas after a year of wrestling elsewhere, already understanding how a team should function. What he found was a group learning together — fast.

“The biggest challenge was getting used to a new system,” Wassef said. “But the team’s love and determination for the sport was greater than any problem we faced.”

Setting the Tone Inside the Room

In a first-year program, leadership doesn’t come from tradition — it comes from behavior. According to head coach Chris Wood, Holloway and Wassef set the tone almost immediately.

“They’re disciplined. They’re respectful. They’re mentally tough,” Wood said. “Win or lose, the first thing they do is ask what they could’ve done better.”

That mentality spread. Practices became louder. Teammates stayed to cheer for one another. Wrestling — an individual sport by nature — began to feel like a shared mission.

At Tomas, wrestling quickly gained a reputation on campus.

“People expect us to be at the top soon,” Wassef said. “Wrestling here means being mentally tough and putting in work.”

The Influences Behind the Culture

While the story at Tomas is centered on the kids building it, the environment they’re thriving in reflects years of influence behind the scenes.

Wood credits his parents first — a mindset instilled early that failure wasn’t an option and perseverance was non-negotiable. That belief still shows up in Tomas wrestlers who refuse to quit late in matches or tough practices.

From his high school coaches, Mike Froelich and David Pruitt, Wood learned relentlessness — keeping a pace no opponent wants to match. That influence is felt every time Tomas wrestlers push the tempo.

As a young coach, Wood worked under Eric Scholle at Paetow, where he learned how to make wrestling a place kids want to be — a lesson echoed by Wassef, who said teammates now look forward to practice. Later, under Mike Jimenez at Clear Springs, Wood refined his technical coaching and learned how to handle big moments, including being in the corner for a 6A state champion.

Those influences don’t sit on the wall as accolades — they show up daily through structure, intensity, and an environment built for growth.

Leaving a Mark

For Holloway and Wassef, winning district titles in Tomas’ first season is about more than medals.

“It means I can leave my mark,” Wassef said. “Be remembered for my hard work and accomplishments.”

That idea — building something from the ground up — defines Tomas wrestling right now. The season isn’t finished, and the team still has its sights set on regionals. But regardless of what comes next, the program already has its first standard-bearers.

In a school still discovering its identity, Tomas wrestling has found one early — shaped by discipline, belief, and two athletes who refused to wait for history to be written before making it themselves.