Wrestling Preview: Harbor has desire to improve

Steve Virgen

There is one place left to go for the Newport Harbor High wrestling

team, and that is up.

A last-place finish in the Sea View League might not be a probable

forecast for the Sailors this season, because there are so many

positives. And it is those positives that can push Harbor to improve and

to build for next year.

Already, the Sailors have tripled last year’s dual meet victories with

three. There is also hope that stems from the Lim brothers, Bruce and

Kevin.

And the desire to improve has gone beyond the focus on individuals.

There is a team at Harbor and the Sailors are working on the building

plans together.

“We’re wrestling better as a team,” Tars Coach Dominic Bulone said.

“There’s more unity. We’re more of a unit and it’s just going to get

better as these kids get older.”

Another reason for Harbor’s expected improvement is Coach Bulone. The

second-year coach has an upbeat approach and uses a simple strategy for

his wrestlers. He wants them to have fun and the hard work will follow.

His excitement for the sport and for the Sailors has led to new faces

training with the team. Bulone even lured girls to try out. And this

season, Harbor will feature Bailey Bearden (130 pounds), who is the

school’s first girl to wrestle for the varsity squad.

Bearden’s serious desire for wrestling has also brought her sister,

Lindsay, and Stacy Phillips to join. They wrestle for the junior varsity

team for now.

“Bailey will be an example to all the girls that will follow her,”

Bulone said. “She’s a role model. She has won some matches this year and

that’s an indication of her work ethic.”

Senior Joe Madrid (160), sophomore John Rolsheim (112) and the Lim brothers have excited Bulone even more. Bruce Lim had scored 30 takedowns

before the Sailors barely lost to Costa Mesa, 33-30, Thursday. He has

allowed just one takedown and Kevin Lim has allowed just one takedown as

well.

Bulone expects Bruce Lim to place in the CIF finals this year. Last

season, he was one match away from being able to place. Bulone says he is

the team’s lone superstar because Michael Snyder graduated last June.

Snyder placed sixth in CIF last year. He attends Orange Coast College.

And he helps the Sailors train once or twice a week.

Harbor also receives help from Bulone’s assistants, Drew Lorentzen and

Tim Kenney, who are also alumni.

“Our team scores will improve this season,” Bulone says. “We have a

really young team. We have a lot of work to do to make that happen. If we

just improve on cutting the margin of loss, then we’ll be happy with

that.”

NEWPORT HARBOR WRESTLING

103 -- Kevin Lim Fr.

112 -- John Rolsheim So.

119 -- Kyle Codey Fr.

125 -- Bruce Lim Sr.

130 -- Bailey Bearden So.

135 -- Jon Vallejo So.

140 -- John Archer So.

145 -- Brandon Marshall So.

152 -- Tim Alexander Jr.

160 -- Joe Madrid Sr.

171 -- Julio Villalobos So.

189 -- Frankie Rodriguez Sr.

215 -- Genaro Mota Jr.

HWT. -- Phil Gerard So.

Coach: Dominic Bulone