Underdogs ready to seize the day

Coyote wrestling team building base for next season



EARNING HIS WINGS—Calabasas High wrestler Angel Garcia, top, earned a pin against Westlake’s Kevin Jimenez during a Marmonte League dual last week. Garcia is a tough sophomore heavyweight.

EARNING HIS WINGS—Calabasas High wrestler Angel Garcia, top, earned a pin against Westlake’s Kevin Jimenez during a Marmonte League dual last week. Garcia is a tough sophomore heavyweight.

Sports underdogs have secured cushioned seats in the pantheon of popular culture.

There are the Average Joe’s from “Dodgeball.” Ralph Macchio in “The Karate Kid.” And of course the adorable leprechaun Sean Astin in “Rudy.”

Along Mulholland Highway, there are the Calabasas High wrestlers, a motley crew of quirky characters and gutsy grapplers.

The Coyotes’ sophomore captain, a third-generation wrestler, is confident, articulate and polite off the mat.

The most talented wrestler physically is a lone wolf, a rebel who does things his own way.

The team’s only senior is new-age renaissance man, a voracious reader who enjoys archery and surfing.

This is the smallest team Calabasas has fielded since Andy Falk started as head coach in the 1994-95 season. What the Coyotes lack in numbers, they make up for in spirit.

“This is a team with heart,” Falk said. “This is a team that doesn’t give up.”

An Angel looks out for the Coyotes.

In the final bout of a 67-10 Calabasas loss at Westlake last week, Coyote sophomore Angel Garcia squared off against the Warriors’ Kevin Jimenez.

Garcia trailed early in his match, but used his deceptive quickness to earn a second-period pin. The Coyotes celebrated Garcia’s win with raucous cheers. They lost the Marmonte League dual, but who cares, did you see Angel win?

“We haven’t won a lot of matches, but we’ve improved a lot,” said Emerson Painter, a 132-pound sophomore captain.

“The team wants to learn and wants to do well. They’re willing to work for it.”

Painter excels wrestling from the top position, using his strong arms and quickness to glean points. He’s working on being more aggressive.

Wrestling whipped Painter into shape. He was 160 pounds when he started wrestling, and he started shredding weight in the room. He’s lost 35 pounds since he started training the summer before his freshman year.

“I lost my fat and put on muscle,” Painter said. “I wanted to win. I wanted to get in shape. I wanted to be prepared to do the best I could. I hope I can improve a lot more and place at league finals.”

The captain said the Coyotes are looking forward to joining the Camino League next year with Agoura, Oak Park, Moorpark and Newbury Park.

“This year, I hope we can get our base skills we need,” Painter said. “We can be league champions (next year). If we get a few more people here, we can be league champions, easily.”

Painter’s father, Chris, and grandfather, Earl, wrestled as youngsters in Colorado.

Robert Romero is a promising freshman.

Romero’s older brothers Angel and Christopher grappled at Calabasas. Sixth-year assistant coach Kia Ahankoob, a 2008 Calabasas graduate, said Robert Romero has the highest ceiling among the three brothers. Ahankoob wrestled with Angel—who’s now in the U.S. Navy— and coached Christopher, a Fresno State student.

The freshman embraces the challenging sport.

“It’s a lot of work,” Robert Romero said. “I really have to work to win.”

Romero, who grapples at 126 pounds, took fifth place at the Thousand Oaks’ novice tournament and at the Westlake tournament.

The Coyote is a solid defensive wrestler who thrives at sprawling and using his speed to gain an edge. He’s working on taking more shots and finishing moves with authority. He’s considering trying out for the CHS tennis team.

Ben Haronian won a Marmonte championship last winter at 120 pounds.

This fall, the junior wrestles up at 138 pounds, but he said he’ll drop to 132 this postseason. He’s athletic, nimble and powerful. He is an aggressive grappler who can toss foes around like Dodger Stadium beach balls.

“I’m trying to get better by myself,” Haronian said. “I’m focusing on myself to get better.”

Haronian said he wants to earn another league title and reach the Masters meet.

He competed in judo as a youngster. His father, Edmond, placed in the top-three of a national judo competition in Israel.

Robert Nelson, a senior at 152 pounds, has wrestled all four years with the Coyotes. The senior has “wild, crazy strength,” according to Ahankoob.

Nelson said the sport is intense and tough.

“ There’s training every day,” he said. “It’ll teach you to not give up, if you stick with it.

“It keeps you in such great shape and it teaches you (the value of) hard work.”

Nelson lost 20 pounds in his first year on the team, and he’s continuing to work on countermoves and building endurance so he can finish matches strong.

The senior is reading three books—“Don Quixote,” “The Arabian Nights” and a historical fiction novel on Julius Caesar. He enjoys archery, surfing and snowboarding.

Ori Mizrahi is a hardworking freshman at 113 pounds.

Sam Paul, a freshman at 120, is a tough grappler, according to Ahankoob.

Nick Thorton, a 145-pound junior, is a first-year wrestler who has lost a lot of weight. He’s on the verge of breaking out.

Wolfgang Wimmer (160) is one of the most promising freshmen on the team.

Luke Wright (184) is a junior with a judo background.

Nick Krutilek (220) is a strong, dedicated athlete.

Garcia, a heavyweight, is one of the few football players on the squad. Ahankoob said four or five football players who tried out for wrestling were academically ineligible.

“Angel is surprisingly fast and agile,” Ahankoob said. “He has a fighting spirit.”

The Coyotes are gearing up for the Marmonte tournament on Feb. 15 at Moorpark, and for a brighter future in the Camino League.

“We’re building a foundation for the next couple of years,” Falk said. “Our goal is to compete for a league title. That’s what we want to do every year.”

Falk paused for a moment before continuing.

“The goal really is to keep morale high,” he said, “and keep kids interested in the sport.”


TIME TO SPAR—Calabasas’ Nicholas Thorton prepares to grapple Westlake’s Patrick Burke in a road Marmonte League dual.

TIME TO SPAR—Calabasas’ Nicholas Thorton prepares to grapple Westlake’s Patrick Burke in a road Marmonte League dual.

TUMBLING—Calabasas wrestler Ben Haronian, left, defeats Westlake’s Chandler Grading. Haronian is one of the best wrestlers in the area.

TUMBLING—Calabasas wrestler Ben Haronian, left, defeats Westlake’s Chandler Grading. Haronian is one of the best wrestlers in the area.

PAINTER BLACK—Calabasas captain Emerson Painter, left, wrestles Westlake’s Andrew Cooper.

PAINTER BLACK—Calabasas captain Emerson Painter, left, wrestles Westlake’s Andrew Cooper.

FIGHTER—Calabasas High wrestler Robert Nelson, left, battles Westlake’s Cory Fachar during a recent Marmonte League dual.

FIGHTER—Calabasas High wrestler Robert Nelson, left, battles Westlake’s Cory Fachar during a recent Marmonte League dual.

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