Yuma Catholic wrestling preview
Last year: NA.
Returning state placers: Senior Nick Waterford returning state champ (215) will begin season recovering from knee surgery – expected to return mid- to late-December.
Key newcomers: Ryan Gill (152 probably up to 160); Johnny Montchal (125-130); and senior Danny Pena-Herrera a three-year varsity wrestler.
Shamrocks coach Joe Waterford's comments: "We’ve had a good turnout – about 28 kids. We have about 15 freshmen. … We started a summer program - went to Poway and some notable collegiate wrestlers come in for a camp. … Going to have every weight filled two deep. We are a very young, inexperienced group that is going to be with us for a while and has committed to the program. I think we are going to surprise some people. I think we will be very aggressive. … I think we can really establish Yuma Catholic as a decent program. I really want to be competitive at state and region."
The lowdown: YC is probably the third-best 1A/2A squad in the region, but if the work in the summer paid off could push Antelope. YC will have a tough time finishing .500 in duals but should receive a boost when Nick Waterford returns. If Nick Waterford returns at full strength, he should repeat or at least advance to the semis.
