A pair of local scholastic wrestling teams hope to pin down winning seasons this winter.
At La Jolla High, the Vikings and coaches Ryan Lennard and Paul Schon look to field a full lineup this season in order to avoid giving points away.
“Due to the fact that we did not have a full lineup last year, we did not do well in dual meets (school versus school),” Lennard said. “Each individual spot we are missing in our lineup of 14 weights counts as a pin against us (6 points), so, realistically we did not win one dual meet.”
Returning seniors include Sam Abbott, David Medrano, Daniel Guerro, Ross Touriel and Matt Vachon. Also look for junior Tyler Rohr to contribute.
“With a brand new coaching staff and a fresh new outlook on the season, we hope to build the program back up to what it once was,” Lennard noted. “We have a lot of work ahead of us and the kids really need to commit themselves. I feel that in the next couple of years we have the potential to really turn some heads.”
Last weekend, La Jolla competed in the Mar Vista “Battle by the Beach” and came home with a pair of medals.
At University City (UC) High, new head coach Jeret Needham and the Centurions see this season as a year filled with many challenges.
“Our schedule is rigorous and we are only returning four seniors,” Needham noted. “Our squad may be young, but thanks to our talented underclass we could be very competitive.”
In the season’s first tourney, “Battle by the Beach,” senior Carl Pasquale finished second. Other Centurion wrestlers gaining medals included senior Robert Ramos, and juniors Alex Scarlett and Jan Sales.
Also look this season for contributions from seniors Chad Campbell and Casey Nakamura. Nakamura is UC’s returning Master’s qualifier and placed third in the City Conference and first in the Western League last season.
UC’s junior varsity squad also competed over the weekend, recording victories over Vista (45-30), Mission Hills (39-37), West Hills (36-34), Grossmont (40-36), and tying Fallbrook (42-all).
Individual placers included Steven Esquivel, who finished in second and went 9-1 in action. Billy Cafcules placed fourth, going 7-3, while Patrick O’Hara placed fifth and went 4-1.