Going forward

Bryce Alderton

For the first time in four years, Newport Harbor wrestling coach

Dominic Bulone has a full team to fill the 14 weight classes as the

Sailors look to improve on a winless 2001-02.

The Sailors (2-3) have already surpassed last years’ win count

with two victories in three matches against Newport-Mesa schools

Corona del Mar and Estancia while losing to Costa Mesa in the

four-team district championships held at CdM last week. Costa Mesa

went 3-0 to claim the team title.

Eight of the 17 wrestlers are seniors, which gives Bulone added

experience on the mat.

“We have a lot of wrestlers with one to two years of experience

and a couple superstars,” Bulone said.

Bulone spoke highly of junior Kid Lim, who wrestles in the

112-pound class, along with seniors Nate Geier (135) and Brandon Marshall (171). All three Sailors won individual district

championships in the four-team meet. Geier, a four-year varsity

wrestler and defending Sea View League 130-pound champion, pinned all

three of his opponents in the district meet to win an individual

championship. The previous week he won the 135-division at the Andrew

Pena Classic at Irvine High with four victories.

Junior Jon Rolsheim has also given Bulone solid effort in the

early season and the coach gave encouraging words about senior Tony

Pinon (152), who had two pins at the district championships.

Harbor has two wrestlers each competing in three weight classes:

135, 215 and the heavyweight. Senior Brad Bybee and junior Fabian

Vasquez occupy the 215 slot with seniors Phil Gerard and Jack Skahen

anchoring the heavyweight class. Junior Paul Landers will wrestle at

135 with Geier.

Seniors Geoff Pietrok (145) and Jon Enciso (189) along with

sophomores Morgan Nolan (119), David Spenser (130) Kyle Codey (140)

and Jeff Lande (160) compliment freshman Victor George (103). Enciso

and Bybee had pins at the district championships.

Spenser and Geier both tallied consecutive pins against Corona

last week.

Spenser, a grin on his face following his pin, gave Geier a

high-five and said, “I saw an opportunity to go for the ankles and I

did.”

Newport beat CdM, 44-29, he first time the Sailors have beat the

Sea Kings in Bulone’s four-year tenure.

“The match with Corona was excellent,” Bulone said.