As the 2024 wrestling season at Granite Bay starts, Levi Bussey’s high school career ends. 

From the start, seventh grade, Bussey’s wrestling performance has gone nowhere but up. His wrestling career blossomed and thrived in the past few years as he has climbed to the top of Granite Bay’s team. 

Bussey has made it to state twice, during his sophomore and junior year.. He describes his performance as a sophomore as “tough”, and says he wrestled well in the 2023 CIF Wrestling State Championship. However, in his junior year, Bussey made a massive advance when he placed a significant amount higher in state for his weight class.

“The biggest jump was to junior year, where I just got more confident in myself. (I) was able to beat better guys and finish better in state.” Bussey said.

He says this confidence was sparked by the team leaders’ commitment to helping him and the other members believe in themselves.

In addition to providing guidance to Bussey, his teammates have also been a source of comradery.

“We joke around before practice and like at tournaments. But once it’s time to practice for our matches we lock in and get more serious. But it’s good to have that balance,” Bussey said. “Everybody’s putting in the work, and it just kind of rubs off on everyone.”

Ben Calia, a sophomore and wrestler on the team, is a good friend who had met Bussey while attending high school wrestling practices in eighth grade. From that point, they grew closer and a friendship developed.

“He’s definitely kind of a mentor to me. He helps me out when I need help with anything” Calia said. “He raises the bar for the whole team (and) he’s brought me along to a lot of good tournaments he’s been to. He coaches me a lot.”

Bussey’s hard work does not stop in the off-season, as he continues to train and prepare for the upcoming season.

 “I tone back the intensity,” Bussey said. “(I) work more on technique and just try to dial it back a little bit. Then when it’s time for off-season tournaments, I’ll pick up the pace during my training camp.”

His high school experience might be over soon, but his wrestling career is just getting started.

Bussey is looking into his future after committing to Cal Poly for wrestling in his junior year. But instead of worrying about what’s to come, he says he is enjoying the preparation period.

“I was more just focused on wrestling, working out and stuff,not as focused on the end goal,” Bussey said. “I just learned to just enjoy the process. And then by doing that I just got a lot better.”

Though his friends will miss him, as he is an integral part of the team, many of them are keeping in mind that there are a lot of opportunities waiting for him in the future. And the next phase of his life will be just as memorable.

“It’s definitely gonna be different without him,” Calia said. “I’m sad to see him go, but I know he’s got a lot coming for him in college.”