If size really does matter, the Live Oak High wrestling squad
will be just fine this season.
If size really does matter, the Live Oak High wrestling squad will be just fine this season.
This year, the Acorn program features a host of returning senior wrestlers in the higher weight classes, while the lower weight classes will be filled mostly with less experienced competitors, according to second-year coach Ron Nichols.
Of the nine returning wrestlers for Live Oak, six are expected to compete in 150-pound classes and above. In fact, the Acorns are so full up in the heavier weights that some classes feature more than one Live Oak wrestler.
Nichols said he will rely heavily, no pun intended, on his more experienced wrestlers to compete in the traditionally talent-laden Tri-County Athletic League, which features the past two Central Coast Section team champions in Gilroy and Hollister. But Nichols said he’s also expecting the younger wrestlers to grow up quickly in the lighter weight classes.
“All the returning guys, I expect more this year from them,” Nichols said. “But I’m encouraged by the first-year kids. The TCAL is always tough but I like being in this (league). If we can do well, I feel like we accomplished something. The kids are working hard. I hope we can take the next step.”
Last year, Live Oak finished fifth out of six teams in the TCAL, finishing ahead of only North Salinas. But the Acorns sent six wrestlers to CCS and only two of them were seniors.
The biggest returning Acorn of all is senior Michael Gamez, a heavyweight who finished in the Top 10 at the CCS finals after a second-place finish in league last year. Gamez shed 20 pounds of suet from last year and now weighs in at a rock-hard 245.
Other senior returners in the heavier weight classes include 189-pounder Gabe Sedberry, 171-pounder Dan Wahl, 171-pounder Bryan Smith, 154-pounder Mitch Reisner and 151-pounder Pat Courtney.
Not that the lighter weight classes are without talent.
Junior Alejandro “Hondo” Dominguez, who also finished in the Top 10 at CCS last year after taking third at league, returns at 112 pounds, along with senior 130-pounder Ishmael Marisclan and sophomore 120-pounder Jason Hendersen.
Smith and Marisclan, who both finished fourth in league, also qualified for CCS last year.
Live Oak was scheduled to compete in a quad dual meet at Archbishop Mitty on Thursday and is slated to compete in the Gilroy Novice Tournament on Wednesday beginning at 3 p.m. at Gilroy High.
The Acorns begin their TCAL schedule at North Salinas on Jan. 14, then host Hollister and Gilroy on Feb. 4 and 10, respectively.
