Jan.
3, 2008: The Salt Lake Tribune
Juan Diego Aims to Get Up Off the Mat
by Chhun Sun
For the past three years, Juan Diego
wrestling was nowhere near spectacular. The Soaring Eagle
were beaten up regularly. Last year, they won two of 17
meets.
The Soaring Eagle had a coach last year
the wrestlers considered not very helpful. One current
wrestler said he practically sat back and said, "Do
something."
There was not a lot hope for improvement.
But times are changing at Juan Diego.
And the strange thing is it's the past
that's leading the change. John Gavin is back. The veteran
coach started the wrestling program when the school opened
in 1999.
He was there for five years - guiding Juan
Diego to five region titles and two individual state
champions - before leaving for three years to follow his
son's high school wrestling career at East.
Entering this week, the Soaring Eagle are
5-15.
"We're going to be better at state this
year and the years to come," said junior Zac Petereit, who
wrestles in the 140-pound class.
The Soaring Eagle said they're getting
more and more respect after meets, as opposing coaches
approach Gavin and tell him the changes they've seen.
But it wasn't easy for Gavin once he was
back at the helm.
He practically had to start from scratch.
He had to teach his 23 wrestlers - about 75 percent are
just learning the sport - basic moves, like how to stand
correctly.
Now, though, the Soaring Eagle are putting
moves together and, in some cases, using a double-leg
takedown to turn it into a pinning combo.
"The kids are learning really fast," he
said.
But the Soaring Eagle aren't expected to
take over Class 3A anytime soon. Not with young,
inexperienced wrestlers on the roster. Gavin and his
assistants - Matt Gavin (his son) and Andrew Sedillo (a
former Arizona State wrestler) - plan to have a quiet
season and then look to surprise teams in the coming
years.
"I wouldn't being do my job if I think we
couldn't compete," John Gavin said. "It's probably going
to take two to three years."
At the same time, Gavin believes wrestlers
Petereit, Devan Kallas (215), Zeke Lamb (160), Tadashi
Kitomora (112), Jammie Marcosian (285), Taylor Berg (189)
and Jake Daughty (171) can all qualify for the state
championships and finish at least in the top six.
Schedule
Upcoming Juan Diego meets
-
Tuesday - Dual meet against Alta, 7 p.m.
-
Wednesday - Dual meet at North Sanpete, 7
p.m.
-
Jan. 19 - Ben Lomond Tournament, TBA
-
Jan. 23 - Dual meet at Carbon, 7 p.m.
-
Jan. 25-26 - North Sanpete Tournament, TBA
-
Jan. 29 - Dual meet against Timpanogos, 7
p.m.
-
Jan. 30 - Dual meet against Emery, 7 p.m.
-
Feb. 8-9 - region tournament at Carbon,
TBA
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