Wrestling Program Has Good Turnout

WAITSBURG – Cardinal wrestling coach Lanny Adams, in his fifth year with the program, is pleased with the turnout for this year's team and excited about the possibilities for the season ahead. A new assistant coach, eighth graders competing at the high school level, and the program's first female wrestler should make for an interesting year.

Ten boys and one girl have been hitting the mats in preparation for the season ahead. In addition to many returning faces are two eighth grade boys, one girl, and two new Waitsburg students, sons of the new assistant coach, who happens to be Adams' brother.

In November, the Waitsburg School Board, at the request of an eighth grade student and supported by the high school wrestling team, voted to allow eight graders to wrestle at the high school level. Carlos Norris (113) and David Lewis (120) are taking advantage of that opportunity.

Norris has been learning the fundamentals through the MatBirds youth wrestling program for years and Adams is more than excited to have him on board.

Waitsburg's female wrestler, Loren Negron (105), is not only new to Waitsburg, but to the U.S. as well. Negron, a freshman, moved to Waitsburg from the Phillipines, where she was raised. She was homeschooled while her dad was on active duty in the military.

Adams said Negron, who weighs in at a mere 103 pounds, has studied eight different martial arts. She recently had her wisdom teeth out and just started contact practices last week.

"It will be a nice transition for her from martial arts to wrestling. A lot of the throws and shots will transfer through," Adams said.

Adams said Negron will wrestle with the boys at some meets, but that sub district, regional and state competitions all have a girls' tournaments, but they are not divided by school size such as 1A or 2B.

Also new to the team this year is Assistant Coach Chad Adams. Chad and his family moved to Waitsburg, this year, from Suncrest, Wash., where his kids attended Lakeview High School. Chad has been involved in wrestling and coaching since he was five, Adams said.

As the seven-years-older brother, Adams coached his younger brother throughout Chad's high school wrestling career. In turn, Chad has coached his two sons, Ky, a freshman, and Joe, a junior, throughout their wrestling careers.

Adams said both Ky and Joe have experience with many wrestling styles including collegiate, Greco, freestyle and U.S.A. Joe placed eighth at the State 1A wrestling tournament in his freshman year.

Returning wrestlers include seniors Tristan Newman (285) and Tyler Hoffman (285); juniors Devin Newman (138), David Just (145), and DeJay Lalka (137), and sophomore Joe LaRue (152).

"This should be Tristan's fourth trip to State and this time he's got his eye on the podium," Adams said. The state heavyweight contender is the first Waitsburg wrestler to compete at the State level. He placed fourth at State in 2014, but got knocked out of the Mat Classic championships early last year.

Adams has high expectations for both of his heavyweights, Tristan and Hoffman. "It would be nice to have two 285 lb. competitors at State this year and they have the potential to do it," Adams said.

In fact, Adams thinks he has a shot of taking as many as six or seven wrestlers to the state competition this year. Adams said the team performed "exceptionally well" at the Dec. 1 Takedown Jamboree in Columbia-Burbank, with most of the guys coming out 2-1 and Joe Adams winning 3-0.

Adams is looking forward to the team's first tournament at Spangle High School on Sat,. Dec. 12.

"This will give us a chance to compete against some of the larger teams from up north that we won't see again until regionals – Hanford, Clarkston, Cheney. It's good to have that larger-school experience. We should have some athletes who make it to the finals and bring home some medals," Adams said.