Dec. 3, 2024

What the Hughson wrestling team may lack in experience to start the season, the Huskies hope to make up for in sweat, determination and work ethic. Gone is three-time State Meet qualifier Nicholas Perez and other senior leaders. In their place is a gritty group that already has impressed Coach Joey La Rosa with their attitude and desire to get better.

“We’ve got a super young lineup,” La Rosa acknowledged. “Our theme is, ‘You win or you learn.’ And I think that’s going to produce a lot of growth over the year and put them in a position at the end of the year when it really matters.”

La Rosa is counting on three juniors – Logan Dekleva (126 pounds), Landon Mason (132) and Caleb Parshall (150) – as well as senior Xavier Hernandez to set an example for their less-experienced teammates.

“Logan, Landon, Caleb and Xavier are our core four. They’ve been wrestling since eighth grade. This is their third year with me, so they know the ropes,” La Rosa said.

The Huskies open their season Wednesday with their first dual meet against Ceres. They will compete in the Turlock Bulldog Classic this weekend before hosting the renamed Mel Lindstrom Holiday Tournament (formerly the Hughson Christmas Duals) on Dec. 20-22. Lindstrom was a Class of 1965 wrestler, a Marine and Vietnam veteran, and a longtime fan who passed away earlier this year.

Hughson will travel to Aptos for the Pat Lovell Holiday Classic right after Christmas, the final tune-up before the Trans-Valley League season begins. The Huskies open with Sonora, a traditionally tough program that joined the TVL this year. Hughson has finished second in the TVL the past two seasons to Escalon.

“They’re still the team to beat,” said La Rosa of Escalon. “We have a young team, but our standard is still to be league champions. That’s the goal that we’re working on.”

Here are Hughson’s likely wrestlers at each weight class:

106: Ethan Gagnier, a sophomore wrestling for the first time.

113: No wrestler.

120: Dominic Lopez, a freshman.

126: Logan Dekleva, a junior who was a Sub-Section qualifier the past two years. “He’s done a good job helping the underclassmen this year. He’s very dependable,” La Rosa said.

132: Landon Mason, a junior who competed at 126 pounds last year, when he was a Sub-Section qualifier. “He’s a kid we’ve got a good feeling about. He’s poised to be a league champion and make a deep run in the Masters Meet,” La Rosa said.

138: Caden Bowerman, a freshman.

144: Kaiden Lutz, a junior in his first year, or freshman Brice Rucker.

150: Caleb Parshall, a junior who qualified for the Sub-Section Meet a year ago. “He’s built his confidence and gotten taller and more athletic. He’s wrestling very well,” La Rosa said.

157: Everett Compton, a senior.

165: Xavier Hernandez, a senior who qualified for the Sub-Section Meet last year. “He trained all spring, summer and fall to improve his technique. He’s one of our workhorses,” La Rosa said.

175: Daniel Zapien, a senior wrestling for the first time.

190: Luke Bridwell, a senior who is still playing football.

215: Carlos Zapien, a sophomore in his second season.

Heavyweight: Ryan Lankford, a senior who was fifth at the Sub-Section Meet a year ago. “He’s wrestled his whole life, which is not something a lot of heavyweights have done. He’s still on the football field, but we’re excited to get him on the mat,” La Rosa said.