Sports Spotlight - Windermere Observer: Muib Akinyele

When Olympia High senior Muib Akinyele first started wrestling his sophomore year, he never imagined that just two seasons later, he’d place second in his weight class at the Metro Conference Tournament. The tournament was held last weekend at Windermere High. 

How did you get started in wrestling?

One day when I was talking to my friend at lunch, he said, “Hey Muib, do you do a sport?” I said, “No, I hate running.” He said, “Wrestling is the laziest sport in school,” and I said, “Oh snap, really?” So I tried it. The first day we ran two or three miles, and I was dying. He tricked me. That was sophomore year.

Why did you stick with wrestling?

I honestly don’t know. I hated coming to practice for a very long time, but I didn’t want to be that one guy that quits, even though many people quit.

Do you still think wrestling is one of the laziest sports?

No, it’s possibly one of the hardest sports in school.

How did it feel to place second at Metros last weekend?

I was honestly really excited, because that’s the highest I’ve ever placed a tournament. I went to Metros last year, and I didn’t even place at that one, so the comparison between those two was like, “Wow.” But I didn’t think I was going to win the last match, Apopka (guys) are like monsters.

How do you prep for a match?

I spend five to 10 minutes warming up, jogging in place and going through drills. I start clearing my mind of all doubts and get into the mindset of nothing can stop me or take me down. I just watch the matches that are going on. It clears my head, because I focus on that instead of my next match.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?

Your mind quits before your body does. If you just get in the mindset where you’re OK, even though your body might signal otherwise, you’ll still be able to succeed and keep going past your limits.

Who’s your funniest teammate?

Wellingston Ortega or Alex Aguilera. Alex is just really weird — the things he does are unorthodox and awkward, and he makes jokes about it. Wellingston, one time he was singing to his opponent as he was pinning him.

Do you have a favorite quote?

There’s one my coach started saying recently: “If your head hits your knee, you get Muib’ed.” I cradle a lot. He says that during my matches, and it makes me laugh every time.

What do you do in your free time?

If I’m not sleeping, I usually play games or talk to friends, or do homework. 

What are your plans for after high school?

I’m going to UCF to study mechanical or software engineering. I haven’t decided which yet.

What are you most looking forward to about the rest of senior year?

Hopefully going to states and passing all my classes. And graduation. 

Disney or Universal?

I think Universal, because there’s more stuff to do, and I went to Disney once, and it was kind of lame.