Having joined Wrestling as a Junior, James Bae ’26 has steadily developed into a leader both on and off the mat, shaping his approach to his captainship through his experience with teammates at every stage of the program. Now, in his final season, Bae holds a 12-5 record and serves as a steady presence in practices and meets.
Bae reflected on his early experiences on the team, which he noted initially felt nerve-racking. He shared how his experiences have shaped the way he leads and supports the team.
“One of the benefits of starting wrestling as a [Junior] is that I know what it’s like to be new on the team. Wrestling, especially, is one of the sports where it’s pretty daunting at first, especially when you’re new and you’re in front of a crowd, duking it out. It was [daunting] for me, at least. As a leader, I’m pretty intentional about trying to make sure people are comfortable. I know how uncomfortable I was at first in Wrestling and how scared I was, so I try to look after the team and make sure they know they’re okay, because I’ve been in their shoes before,” said Bae.
Hendrick Chen ’29 emphasized how Bae’s reputation as a Co-Captain goes beyond simply being a skilled wrestler and extends to being a grounded, relatable teammate who leads by setting examples.
“He has a really good technique. His work is great. But it’s not only about being skillful. I’d say it’s the fact that he is so down to earth with us instead of trying to set himself up as a superior. He also takes on that role by leading through his work as well. He works hard,” said Chen.
Chen continued, “[Bae brings to Wrestling a] strong work ethic [and is] a supportive, good teammate. He doesn’t let anything break him down. He has a very strong mentality, and he keeps grinding.”
Shayan Ahmed ’29 echoed these sentiments, emphasizing Bae’s ability to lead by example and explaining why his consistency and attitude have earned the respect of the team.
“He’s respected because he’s very consistent and leads by example. He’s always working hard in practice and stays focused, which sets the standard for everyone else. He shows up every day and puts in the work and treats everyone with respect. That makes it easy for the team to trust him. On top of that, he’s always encouraging people. Whether it’s helping someone after a rough match or pushing them in practice, he’s constantly trying to bring the team up,” said Ahmed.
Bae’s impact is also profound in the way he supports his teammates individually. Chen expanded on Bae’s willingness to teach, and encouragement of others had made him a role model for wrestlers on the team.
“In my opinion, he’s both inspirational because he is willing to teach anybody. He’s patient enough to go through the moves with you. No matter how many times it takes you to do it, he’ll do it with you. That cements him as someone you want to look up to,” said Chen.
