If you’re reading this 2009 Moore League Wrestling Preview then chances are you’ve participated in or been a spectator of this fine sport.  I mean let’s face it, people don’t talk too much about these young grapplers.  But in this writer’s humble opinion, they should. 

Long Beach sports fans should be clamoring for this preview as we get closer to a Moore League season that’s up in the air for the first time in years.  This is not a knock on any other sport, but only wrestling can transform a high school gym into an arena pulsating with that kind of energy.

As all the teams chase the Moore League crown, fans will also be able to follow some extremely talented grapplers like Nick Pena of Millikan and Kimo Napohaku of Lakewood, to name a two.  Here are some other individual standouts:

Top Wrestlers By Weight Class

189-Zack Woodruff, Sr- Millikan

171-Miguel Peralta, Sr- Wilson

152-Nick Pena, Sr- Millikan

135-Jesus Preciado, Sr- Poly

130-Kimo Napohaku, Jr- Lakewood

125-Cody Gurule, Jr- Lakewood

119– Sergio Preciado, Sr- Poly

112-Travis Cardwell, Jr- Lakewood

103– James Kuwata, Sr- Millikan

As for the team race, lets start with the reigning champs:

LAKEWOOD

Last year Lakewood won a school-record fourth straight Moore League title as Andy Miramontes and his Lancers continued their recent domination.  Lakewood has taken the proverbial crown eight of the last ten years since Miramontes’ took over, however, the fifth consecutive top finish will be an up hill battle.  The Lancers lost nine starters from last year to graduation, including seven individual league champions.

“We look like we’re going to be okay at the lower weights,” says Miramontes.  “But we need a heavyweight to step up, then we’ll be ready.”  Miramontes (who was on the sideline at the Lakewood semifinal football game on Saturday) is waiting for “3 or 4” football players to make the switch from the gridiron to the mat that could fill that heavyweight hole in the roster.

Leading the group at the lower weights is 130lb Kimo Napohaku.  The junior was an amazing 45-8 as a sophomore and Miramontes says, “He’s that kind of silent leader.  He busts his butt in the room and leads by example… and might be the most motivated kid I’ve had so far… we expect him to make it to the second day of State, he’s that caliber of wrestler.”

The Lancers will also be counting on another championship season from Ryan Bautista, who returns for his senior year as the defending 119lb league champion.  Juniors Irland Abshire at 112lb and Andrew Becaria at 140lb will need to step up in levels without missing a beat if Lakewood wants to lift the trophy for the fifth-straight year.

MILLIKAN

The Rams might be the consensus favorite in 2009 with Lakewood reloading.  “I never like to say we’re supposed to win league,” says head coach Marshall Thompson, who got his 600^th victory last weekend.  “It’s going to be a good year–we’re excited.  We have some great wrestlers who have a lot of experience.”

If Millikan captures it’s first league title since 2005, it’s going to take a great year from seniors Nick Pena and James Kuwata.

Pena wrestles at 152lb and is coming off an outstanding year, going 42-9.  The senior also leads the squad with 61 career pins and is only 35 away from setting a school record.

Kuwata has 90 career victories and was a Moore League Individual champion at 103lb.  He finished sixth at the CIF-SS Central Division Individuals.  He is also creeping up on a school record for wins.

Rounding out the talented and experienced Rams are seniors Jake Wallace at 135lb, Jaime Reyes at 140lb, Julian Gandarilla at 145lb, Zack Woodruff at 189lb and heavyweight Calvin Gonzales.

POLY

If you had to pick a dark horse in this race, it would be the Poly Jackrabbits.  In just his second year on the job, head coach Bart Roper says it has been a tough year-and-a-half getting his team where he wants them to be, but now with a “hall-of-fame” coaching staff, he feels like his program is headed in the right direction.

Headlining that staff is Ray Gulmatico.  Two-time State Champion while at Lakewood, Gulmatico attended UNLV and was a three-time National Champion.  Roper himself has had recent success at Mayfair, and took his team to a third-place finish in CIF last year, with a top five finish the year before that.

Now, Roper and his staff hopes that this team can learn from a tough season and turn it into some upset wins.  To do that, they need a huge year from 135lb Jesus Preciado.

The senior finished fourth at the CIF-SS Central Division Individuals last season and will be one of the Moore League’s elite wrestlers.

“I couldn’t ask for a better kid,” says Roper of Preciado.  “He had a disappointing Masters meet and it’s stayed with him, he really wants to get back… him pushing himself so hard pushes the entire team.”

Preciado will need some help from fellow experienced seniors like Richie Touch at 112lb, Sergio Preciado at 119lb, Ricky Touch at 125lb and Brian Hill at 130lb.

WILSON

The Bruin chances at a league title are slimmer than any other squads’, but if they are poised for a run, it’s going to come down to two juniors.

Josh Newman at 160lb could surprise some guys if he can give Pena (Millikan) a run for his money, and Ignacio Mundo at 215lb could run rough-shot over the heavyweight class if no one else steps up.

Wilson coach Seth Wegter also says the Bruins need some much-needed senior leadership from 12^th graders like Miguel Peralta at 171lb and Soupie Dethlefson 135lb.

If you have any information or pictures throughout the season that you think should be included in our wrestling coverage, please send it to [email protected].  Also, stay tuned to LBPOSTsports.com in the coming weeks as we preview all the winter sports!