Athlete Spotlight: James Wood High School wrestler Joshua Arce

James Wood High School 18-year-old senior

Sport: Wrestling. Weight Class: 126

Parents: Eduardo and Amy Arce

Hometown: Winchester

What do you love about wrestling: I love the competition. I like the one vs. one instead of like a team aspect because you really see how much you improve over the season. Hopefully your teammates are doing well, but you will notice your improvement one vs. one. I also play soccer and you can’t really tell how well you are doing as an individual as easily.

Most memorable moment in wrestling: My first tournament win last year at Berkeley Springs (W.Va.). I won at 120.

Most embarrassing moment in wrestling: At the Willie Walters Tournament last year and it was a home meet. I made it to the finals, but I got pinned in the first period.

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: [Soccer star] Neymar Jr., I like that he’s one of the younger players and really good at a young age and that he can have a lot of improvement from here; my girlfriend Angelina Walters and Harry Potter so he can teach me magic.

What’s the best athletic advice you’ve ever received: “Practice makes perfect.” I’ve been hearing it since a young age. I don’t know who first told me it. I play three sports in high school — cross country, wrestling and soccer. I’ll actually be doing track & field in the spring.

If you could go on a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go: I would want to go to Brazil. My older brother went when he was like 13 with the youth group and he told me a lot of stories about it and I thought it would be fun.

Favorite teacher: Last year’s physics teacher Mr. [Joseph] Hamaker. He had a lot of projects that we had to do on our own, like we had to build our own roller coaster. That was a lot of fun.

Favorite athlete: Neymar Jr.

Favorite team: Brazilian national soccer team

Favorite movie: “Avengers Infinity War”

Favorite TV show: “Friends”

Favorite song: “Immortals” by Fall Out Boy

Favorite food: Pepperoni pizza

Plans after high school: I’m going to go to LFCC for a year to get my associate’s degree, then transfer to Virginia Tech for mechanical engineering. I’ve been interested in engineering since middle school, but I didn’t know what field until last year. I really like mechatronics, which is building robots and stuff.

— Compiled by Walt Moody