RSS Feed
|
|||||
|
Shorthanded Musketeers continue to battle
The standings say the Moorpark High wrestling team is 03 in the Marmonte League, including a 51-24 loss to Agoura High Wednesday. What the box score doesn't show is how the Musketeers have been losing. MHS has been shorthanded on wrestlers this year due to injuries, grapplers not being able to make a certain weight division or because some first-year wrestlers aren't ready to make the jump to the varsity squad. According to head coach Sean Burns, the Musketeers are usually short five grapplers in each meet. For each one of those five matches they can't compete in, the team forfeits a pin and six points. This means that before the MHS bus has even pulled into the parking lot, the team is sometimes already down 30 points. "It was hard to tell the team that, basically, we're not going to win any duals this year," Burns said. "Still, I try to keep their confidence up. If we have nine wrestlers competing, and we win five of the matches, I tell them to hold their heads high because we won more than we lost." Wrestlers like Moorpark senior Alec Mott have tried to make a positive out of the tough situation. "I try not to think about how we are down right away," Mott said. "The best thing to do is focus on the eight or nine guys we do have and worry about that." Senior Cody Gillette agreed with his teammate. "High school wrestling is a team sport, but it's also an individual sport," Gillette said. "Coach Burns said to make it our match, and many guys on the team have taken up the mentality of winning individually. We probably won't go to CIF as a team, but we can still have guys go there individually." So far the strategy has paid off for Gillette, who's 13-3 this season. Another senior that's contributing for the Musketeers is Kyle Nance. Nance, a threeyear varsity starter, has made CIF the last two years. "Wrestling at CIF has helped my confidence," Nance said. "Last year was even better because I was more experienced and used to wrestling the kids with the most skill. I definitely train harder in order to get to CIF." Although seniors like Mott, Nance, Gillette and sophomore Saul Garcia have contributed, the majority of the team consists of first-year wrestlers. Nance said the newcomers are quick learners, but they need to gain confidence. "The only way for our freshmen to gain confidence is for the seniors to not treat them like freshmen," Nance said. "When I stop and do a drill with them, I'll treat them like they're seniors and they've been here a while, because if I don't, they'll always see themselves as newcomers and they won't grow as wrestlers." Despite the setbacks, the mood around the MHS locker room is still optimistic, especially after a tough loss to Royal High two weeks ago. "The Royal match stung, but at the same time it brought the team closer together," Mott said. "After that loss it was Chris Wolett's idea to hold team meetings without our coaches every Monday after practice. So far, I think that's helped us." Burns said he doesn't mind being barred from those meetings. "Absolutely," Burns said. "Anything the kids need to do to feel better and be accountable for their own actions is fine with me. What program wouldn't want that?" Although the meetings aren't for coaches, Musketeer wrestlers maintain a lot of respect for Burns and assistant coach Travis Lavallee. "They've never really given me one speech or one piece of advice that really sticks out, but they're great coaches because they're always there for you," Mott said. Burns returned the compliment. "This team has done a great job of digging down deep and winning with heart," Burns said. "Other years we may have had more talent, but never as much heart. They've had their shortcomings this year and they still find a way to be positive. I have a daughter on the way, but if she was 16, I'd want her to date someone on this team." |
for larger version       |
||||
)