Nate Geier

Barry Faulkner

Before the initial takedown in any wrestling match, there is the

“shakedown,” when a quick clasp of hands between competitors can do

more to set the tone than any scouting report.

Newport Harbor High senior Nate Geier gauges much of his strategy

on the dynamic of the pre-match greeting.

“The style I use comes down to the handshake,” said Greier, who

competes in the 135-pound class. “I try to feel his strength. The

stronger he is, the more willing I am to let him shoot (lunge for an

opponent’s leg or legs in order to take him down) first.”

For the first time in his four-year varsity wrestling career,

however, it’s what Geier brings to the closing stages of a match,

rather than the beginning, that may be the key to his ambitious quest

this season.

“Wrestling has totally changed for me this season,” said the

defending Sea View League 130-pound champion and Sailor co-captain,

who competed his freshman and sophomore seasons for Green Valley High

in Las Vegas.

“Conditioning is an extremely important thing in wrestling and I

didn’t realize that last year. Last year, I loved to be on the bottom

(each wrestler decides where he will start at least one subsequent

period after both start in the neutral, upright, position to begin

the match), because I was always huffing and puffing. It seemed like

every second of a match, I was dying (last year). But, this year, I

get to the third period and I still have some gas going. It has

brought a whole new thing to my wrestling.”

The new and improved Geier has won his first five matches heading

into today’s Newport-Mesa District Championships, a three-way dual

meet against host Corona del Mar, Costa Mesa and Estancia. Included

in his early success was the 135-pound title at Irvine High’s Andrew

Pena Classic, completed Saturday.

The Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week pinned one opponent and

outscored two others, 13-1 and 13-8, to win the tournament in which

he finished fourth last season.

It was the first of what he hopes will be a string of successes

this season, having compiled a preseason goal list that included “Win

everything.”

Winning, however, was secondary to his primary goals, which he

began formulating after a disappointing end to his junior season.

“He had an unexpected loss in the first round of CIF last year,”

Newport Harbor Coach Dominic Bulone said.

“I think that really made him dedicate himself a lot more for this

year.”

After working all summer as part of the Costa Mesa Fire

Department’s explorer program, he began running every day and lifting

as often as he could to prepare for what, most likely, will be his

final season in the sport. He also swore off “partying” and went

about earning the complete respect of his teammates.

“He has expected a lot more of himself this year and he has

grabbed the bull by the horns,” Bulone said. “All of his teammates

picked him to be one of our two captains because of his hard work and

his leadership. He has taken the (leadership) role very seriously. He

is always the last one to leave the (practice) room.”

Already settled in at 135 pounds, Geier hopes to win another

league title, then make a run at the CIF State Championships, the

road to which leads through the CIF Southern Section and Masters

meets.

In addition to improved conditioning, Bulone believes Geier also

brings an impressive blend of quickness, aggressiveness and savvy to

the mat this season.

“He was our best wrestler last year and he has worked hard to

improve himself in a lot of areas this year,” Bulone said.

Geier said he converted to wrestling as a freshman, after playing

youth soccer for years leading to high school.

“What I really like about wrestling is that it’s an individual

sport,” he said. “Soccer is all about the coach’s decision. When he

puts you at a position, that’s what you do.”

Geier said he was primarily a defender in his soccer days, but now

prefers achieving goals to preventing them.