High school wrestling offers many reasons to tap out these days. The scholarship opportunities and the number of teams to wrestle with collegiately in California are slim, if not non-existent. “It’s closing up because they cut UC Davis, and I think they are cutting other California programs,” said Mission Bay High School (MBHS) coach Marco Herrera. “So, with budget cuts, those opportunities are closing up.” According to SaveUCDaviswrestling.com, the Northern California school was the last University of California campus to offer the sport. Neither San Diego State, the University of California, San Diego nor the University of San Diego field a wrestling team. Herrera said the opportunities are still around, local high school athletes just may have to leave the state to find them. But, wrestling doesn’t draw the same crowds as a banner sport like football does. Fewer scholarships and out-of-state tuition costs end many players’ dreams on the high school mats. None of Mission Bay’s seniors from last year moved on to the college ranks. “Very few from San Diego go on to do that,” Herrera said. “It’s usually Division I schools. It’s pretty tough. Even though California is one of the top three wrestling states for high school, they just aren’t continuing on as much as other states.” Part of the problem may be the age these wrestlers start. “I would say 99.9 percent are first-time wrestlers,” Herrera said of his program. “It’s really tough, especially with the bigger schools. They have kids starting out at middle school, so we are going up against experience every single time. It’s a handicap we start out with.” The sport offers its own advantages, though. “The good thing about wrestling is if you work hard, it’s going to show. Whereas a team sport, if you work really hard and then two guys are slacking, then you’re kind of in trouble,” Herrera said. MBHS senior Johnny Valdez, 160 pounds, pins down what it means to showcase his efforts. His coach cites him as a wrestler to watch. “Johnny started his sophomore year, and he’s just been working really hard the three years he’s been here,” Herrera said. “Last year he got second at CIF, and he won league.” MBHS, which has less than a handful of seniors on its roster, will be Valdez-less in the immediate future. “It was unfortunate. This last tournament he was one of the top seeds at the tournament, but he got hurt,” Herrera said. “He’s out — hopefully, just for two weeks.” Due to the nature of the sport, Herrera is used to hitting the gym with fewer players. “In league we went 0-5 last year, but that’s only because we had so many holes in the lineup,” Herrera said. “Just about every guy on our team was league champ because they can win it individually. But as a team we didn’t win a single meet.” Herrera’s focus before league play in January is to gain experience on the mat. “We have a really young team, but they are progressing pretty well,” he said. “They’re facing a lot of more experienced guys, but it’s going to be pretty good in a couple years.” Wrestlers like 103-pound freshman Cameron Nolan is expected to rise to the occasion. MBHS’s up-for-grabs league should help, too. Despite noting some good players, Herrera jokes the competitiveness of the league is comparable to pro football’s AFC West, which should help. “They’re working hard,” Herrera said. “We’re getting a larger number coming out to practices. We have a bigger core now that is really going to be awesome in a couple years.