LJ wrestling: Optimism abounds

Zeke Pearl (L), Viking 122-pounder, is one of the
La Jolla freshmen who bode well for the future
of the program.
(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Those propelling the La Jolla High wrestling program aren't bragging to the community, but head coach Kellen Delaney and long-time coach Walter Fairley, Jr. rightfully feel a lot of enthusiasm and optimism over the present state of the Viking program, with prospects for the future.

"Zeke (Pearl) and Buzzy (Bomberger) are really good freshmen," said Delaney during dinner Friday night, Jan. 25, after the first day of competition for his seven traveling wrestlers in the enormous Holtville Rotary Invitational, which continued Saturday in the Imperial Valley desert.

Delaney, Fairley, and the others coaching the Viking wrestlers, including new assistants Mike Bomberger and Tyler Knigge, can also count on young athletes already involved in the pipeline in the La Jolla Youth Wrestling program, which LJHS alumnus Peter Doncek assists with.

"(Sophomores) Keegan (Leonard) and Chase (Maisel), and (junior) Joshua (Jasso) and (senior) Isaiah (Torres) have all improved a lot since they entered our program," Delaney added.

"Our babies are growing up!" enthused Fairley, who has played no small role in the Viking program ever since serving as an assistant principal on campus prior to his retirement three years ago.

The elder Bomberger wasn't able to be at the late dinner, nor Knigge, but the others talked within their circle about the possible incursion into Muirlands Middle School via a "showcase" or exhibition matches involving Pearl, Buzzy Bomberger, and his younger brother Ben Bomberger, presently in the seventh grade at Muirlands, at the grade-6-7-8 campus to start a program.

Buzzy Bomberger, in down position waiting
to start a new round, is another of the Viking
super freshmen. Buzzy wrestles at 115 pounds.

A week prior to the Holtville tourney, Delaney spoke of hopes for 15 or so high-schoolers to make the 130-mile jaunt, including overnight stay. However, with Jan. 23-24-25 being finals days, some parents balked at having their sons arrange for early exams--some which might have to be completed in one hour, instead of the normal two-hour exam time--and vetoed their participation in the tournament.

La Jolla wrestlers met on campus at 7 a.m. Friday, departing in various cars with coaches and parents at 8 a.m. Weigh-in at Holtville High commenced at 11 a.m., while first matches kicked off right at 1 p.m. Seven mats--five inside the domed gym, two outside on the adjacent basketball courts--were the setting for simultaneous matches throughout the afternoon on day one. Almost 400 high school wrestlers tried their skills against fellow athletes from Southern California and Arizona (Kofa).

Chase Maisel (R): "Our
babies are growing up!"--
Walter Fairley, coach