LJ wrestling: Growing

Viking Chase Maisel (in black singlet),
at 128 pounds, in the grips on day one
of the 55th annual Holtville tourney.
(Photo by Ed Piper) 
 

By Ed Piper

"You really get to know our wrestlers' personalities when you spend all day with them at a tournament," remarked Kellen Delaney, head wrestling coach at La Jolla High, on the first day of the two-day 55th Annual Holtville Rotary Invitational Fri.-Sat., Jan. 26-27.

Here are comments on the Viking wrestlers who competed at the tournament by coaches Delaney and Chuck Pieritz, an assistant.

Chase Maisel, freshman, 128 pounds, in his first year wrestling at LJHS (Delaney): "He's scrappy" (after his first bout Friday, which he lost but in which he was active and aggressive).

In a Hard Luck Bracket bout Saturday, day two, after Maisel was eliminated from the championship bracket Friday, he just went for it. He was aggressive, didn't hold back from fear of making a mistake, and, though he lost the bout, he showed strides. It was noticeable to observers.

Pieritz: "Chase has had the mentality of battling. He's been smoking guys on runs (when the Vikings hold voluntary 6 a.m. early-morning training workouts). Whether up or down, it doesn't matter what the score is. He's a battler."

Isaiah Torres, junior, 222, a returning wrestler (Pieritz): "He shows up everyday. He's respectful to everyone. You never hear bad things about him from other people. He was down versus the Saints, getting blasted, and he didn't give up. He keeps working. We have some awesome kids. I'm grateful to be part of it."

Torres was head-butted, then hit with a forearm by an opponent Friday. The referee warned the opponent on the first instance, then disqualified him on the second, moving Torres into Saturday's second-day action on the DQ. He had slight swelling above the right eyebrow as a result of the head butt.

Hunter Gilbert, sophomore, 134, a returner from last year (Pieritz): "We only have the wrestlers two hours a day. If you can teach them discipline... Hunter is growing in that. Wrestling saved me. I lost my dad when I was 12. Wrestling gave me an avenue. I don't know what I would have done without wrestling."

Gilbert continued on the Vikings this year after gaining coaching and experience last year as a freshman.

Justin Close, sophomore, 140 (Pieritz): "He's a good teammate. He's there everyday. He doesn't shy away from a challenge. He has the mentality for it. He's in the room. He's battling. That's why he's getting better quick."

Joshua Jasso, sophomore, 197, a returning wrestler (Pieritz): "Jasso's just coming into his stuff now. He's coming in (to workouts) everyday. I think it's a thing where he has to realize he can't shut it on and off. He's learning combinations. He takes criticism well. That's hard to do. He's got the skill set to do well."

Asked to elaborate on the elements that make up the "skill set" to succeed, Pieritz said: "Perseverance, an intangible. Work ethic. The intangibles. The techniques come if you have the intangibles. Are you doing your school work at school and at home? Are you eating the right foods? (and so forth)."