After a year of injuries and unexpected struggles, the San Benito wrestling team enters the 2012 season with increased optimism and belief that it can do much better than last year’s 3-3 dual meet record.
The Balers hope to use last year’s late momentum – where they advanced three wrestlers to the Central Coast Section championship’s second day – into the new year. After last year’s inexperienced squad struggled, the Balers return to the mat with wrestlers knowing what it takes to be successful.
“It’s early but its a totally different team for a lot of different reasons,” SBHS head coach Brian DeCarli. “I think we had we had a lot of kids who last year were thinking the name on the jersey is going to carry them a little bit. If it was going to go wrong last year it was going to go wrong .. it was just one of those things. We dealt with a lot of different things.”
He continued: “It was humbling for the kids and humbling for the coaches. This year, it’s a big change – in a positive way – moving into this year.
There was a lot of lumps last year for the kids and they are much better for it now.”
Because of all the experience of last year, San Benito returns with more depth and a stronger overall team, DeCarli said.
“Character wise, in the room they all have the understanding that nothing is easy and it shouldn’t be,” he said. “That was a big thing a lot of the kids had to figure out last year. It wasn’t easy and they have to actually work for it. They put in a lot of work. And as early as it is this year, the attitude has been great.”
The Balers also bring back one of their top wrestlers from a year ago in Robb Rodriguez. Now a senior, Rodriguez has already taken the role of a team leader, he said.
“I want to be a leader in the room,” he said. “I push everyone in the room to be the best.”
Rodriguez, wrestling at 132, advanced to the second day of last year CCS tournament, before being eliminated in the third round. In his final year, he expects to last a little longer.
“I want to win CCS,” he said. “I expect to do that. I definitely hope I will make it to state. I’ve been working hard for it.”
Teammates Elijah Riddle, now a sophomore, and Tim Castillo, a senior, should be strong as well, DeCarli said. Castillo, wrestling at 170, advanced to the fifth round during last year CCS tournament. He was the last SBHS wrestler alive in the championship tournament. He expects to do even better this year.
“I think this is going to be a good year,” Castillo said. “I really hope we do good as a team. I want to get first at CCS after going to the second round last year.”
And after one dual meet victory over Palo Alto – the Balers beat the Vikings 8-6 – Castillo believes the team will only continue to get better.
“We are all going to do our job,” he said. “This year we all feel confident. We look good.”
After only one meet, DeCarli already sees a lot of maturity and growth, he said.
“This is going to be a really good year with a lot of good stories coming out,” DeCarli said. “We are ranked so low because we are so unproven. We have a lot of talent but unproven talent.”
The Balers season continues Saturday at the Fehlman/Baxter Tournament at San Benito High. Teams from Clovis, Bellarmine and Serra will be in attendance.
