Wrestling preview: Mustangs sneaking up on PCL
Steve Virgen
With a fourth-place finish in the Pacific Coast League last year,
expectations aren’t so big for the Costa Mesa High wrestling team. And
Mustangs Coach Matt Kellogg likes it better that way.
The overshadowing of Mesa’s individual wrestlers will allow the
Mustangs to sneak up on others and, if anything, will create the proper
maintenance to fine-tune for next season.
“I don’t expect us to turn a lot of heads,” said Kellogg, in his third
year as head coach. “But, we’ll do well. And next year, as a team, we’re
going to compete.
Though wrestling is more of an individual sport, the Mustangs will be
led by juniors Benedick David (145-pound class) and Myron Tracy (152) who
were runners-up at last year’s PCL finals. Kellogg is excited the two are
improving. And he’s even more excited that they will be returning next
season.
“We have a lot of young guys out. I’m very encouraged,” Kellogg said.
“The leaders are our juniors (David and Tracy) so that shows something
really positive for the future.”
Kellogg also mentioned the leaders would have been joined by Art
Donovan, another runner-up in last year’s PCL finals, who is no longer at
the school.
But, Kellogg is thrilled over Julio Ramirez, another junior who might
be wrestling in the 160-pound weight class. Kellogg said Ramirez, who has
been academically ineligible for the past two years, is the only wrestler
he knows of who came to Mesa with wrestling experience.
Mesa football players who are crossing over to wrestling will only
help the Mustangs, Kellogg, a Mesa football assistant coach said. Kellogg
encouraged football players David, juniors Marco Fuentes and Doug
Amburgey, along with sophomores James Paulsen (heavyweight) and Tim
Iller, to wrestle because the training wil only improve their performance
on the football field.
“Wrestling definitely helps to tone up your football skills,” Kellogg
said. “The rate of strength, endurance, mental discipline and toughness
and balance is also crucial in wrestling.”
The Mustangs will rely on the football players and the youth on the
wrestling team to better last year’s finish. The PCL will be competitive
for them once again.
“(University) is probably the favorite,” Kellogg said. “Corona del Mar
had a tough team last year and (it will) be tougher than years past.
Estancia has a new coach and a lot of times a new coach can effect some
changes. If they get back a lot the guys from last year, they’ll be near
the top again.”
COSTA MESA WRESTLING
Dougl Amburgey
Stewart Anderson
Luis Aragon
Benedick David
Patrick Eller
Jonathan Enloe
Silvio Estrada
Jesse Franco
Marco Fuentes
Luis Gonzalez
Matt Grubisich
Timothy Iller
Jimmy Isais
Gregory McCarter
Darrrell McDaniels
James Paulsen
Julio Ramirez
Omar Ruiz
Michael Siminoff
Brandon Slaney
Murdock Tracy
Myron Tracy
Gabriel Felix
Benjamin Oremann
Adam Donovan
Enrique Salas
Sean Lynott
Coach: Matt Kellogg
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