Tiny Giants: Klostreich building winner at small San Pasqual

San Pasqual wrestling has been pretty good.

The school that on a good day boasts 150 students went 75-5 in duals over the past two seasons – including a school-best 44 wins a year ago. The Warriors finished fifth at the 1A/2A state tournament in 2009 after placing sixth the year before.

And despite losing a two-time state champion at 112 pounds and two runners-up at 275 and 215, San Pasqual may be even better.

High expectations have become the norm for San Pasqual wrestling for two reasons: Hall of Fame coach Don Klostreich and dedicated athletes.

But Klostreich is the first to say the kids deserve most of the credit, especially at San Pasqual.

“You got to have kids,” said Klostreich, who was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2007. “You can be the best coach in the world but if you don’t have some athletes, you are going to get your butt beat. If I got some athletes, I got a chance to win. I’ve been fortunate at San Pasqual to have some pretty good kids.”

 Klostreich came to San Pasqual in 1994 after guiding Yuma High to a fourth-place finish at state. He’s guided nine teams to state titles in Arizona and had 80 individual champions.

Over the past decade, the Warriors have finished in the top 10 seven times and cracked the top five four times: second in 1998 and third in 1990, 1999 and 2001.

A good run for nearly any school in the state but astounding when one considers San Pasqual has a tough time filling all 14 weights.

“For San Pasqual to put 14 kids out there year after year is tough,” Klostreich said. “It’s tough for the larger schools. And we do it. If a kid gets sick or is ineligible or don’t make weight, then we forfeit. We have to have a lot going right every week to put 14 kids on the mat. We got no room for error. We’ve had that and we have it this year.”

San Pasqual has 16 kids in the wrestling room this season, including two returning state placers: Pedro Martinez and Joe Delgado.

Martinez is the veteran of the room. The four-year varsity wrestler placed a disappointing fifth as a junior in 2009 at 171 after coming in third as a sophomore at the same weight.

“Pedro is a senior and he’s due. He’s been knocking on the door for three years,” Klostreich said. “This could be his year. If he works hard in the practice room, he has a shot at it. He’s got a little bit of everything. He’s a street fighter. He’s got good speed, good balance, good strength.”

Anything other than a trip to the finals would not be acceptable for Martinez, who went 46-11 in 2009.

“Yeah, I will be pretty disappointed,” Martinez said. “I have been working for this since freshman year and it’s here so I am going to take advantage of it.”

Delgado, who tipped the scales at 80 pounds, was sixth at 103 pounds as a sophomore (43-15). This year he comes in 20 pounds heavier, having spent the offseason in the weight room and working out with his brother, who was a state champion at 103 two years ago for the Warriors.

“Joe is probably the most improved kid in the room,” Klostreich said. “He is a lot better this year than he was last year.”

Besides the returning state placers, the Warriors have plenty of experience led by George Salas (125) and Roger Valencia (130), Guillermo Gallardo (275), Andrew Baltazar (135), Ramon Hernandez (112) and Reggie Sanchez (145).

Key newcomers include Eldifonso Gonzalez (119), Jose Cotero (140), freshman Simon Ramirez (152), Vincent Salas (160) and Paul Wiseman (189).

A tougher schedule and fewer matches will probably keep San Pasqual from besting last year’s record but should pay dividends when the state tournament rolls around in early February.

The Warriors along with a majority of the teams from the area will be at the inaugural Yuma County Tournament in mid-December at Yuma High. The format of the two-day event will consist of dual matches on day one followed by an individual tournament.

“Every year is a building year. I build every year,” Klostreich said. “We are wrestling bigger competition. We are wrestling Cibola, who might be state champions in 5A, and Kofa who is always tough. For a little school – about 150 kids – to compete against those schools, it is going to be tough. But I think we can hang with a couple of them.”