Jan. 3, 2008: The Salt Lake Tribune

Juan Diego Aims to Get Up Off the Mat
by Chhun Sun

For the past three years, Juan Diego wrestling was nowhere near spectacular. The Soaring Eagle were beaten up regularly. Last year, they won two of 17 meets.

The Soaring Eagle had a coach last year the wrestlers considered not very helpful. One current wrestler said he practically sat back and said, "Do something."

There was not a lot hope for improvement.

But times are changing at Juan Diego.

And the strange thing is it's the past that's leading the change. John Gavin is back. The veteran coach started the wrestling program when the school opened in 1999.

He was there for five years - guiding Juan Diego to five region titles and two individual state champions - before leaving for three years to follow his son's high school wrestling career at East.

Entering this week, the Soaring Eagle are 5-15.

"We're going to be better at state this year and the years to come," said junior Zac Petereit, who wrestles in the 140-pound class.

The Soaring Eagle said they're getting more and more respect after meets, as opposing coaches approach Gavin and tell him the changes they've seen.

But it wasn't easy for Gavin once he was back at the helm.

He practically had to start from scratch. He had to teach his 23 wrestlers - about 75 percent are just learning the sport - basic moves, like how to stand correctly.

Now, though, the Soaring Eagle are putting moves together and, in some cases, using a double-leg takedown to turn it into a pinning combo.

"The kids are learning really fast," he said.

But the Soaring Eagle aren't expected to take over Class 3A anytime soon. Not with young, inexperienced wrestlers on the roster. Gavin and his assistants - Matt Gavin (his son) and Andrew Sedillo (a former Arizona State wrestler) - plan to have a quiet season and then look to surprise teams in the coming years.

"I wouldn't being do my job if I think we couldn't compete," John Gavin said. "It's probably going to take two to three years."

At the same time, Gavin believes wrestlers Petereit, Devan Kallas (215), Zeke Lamb (160), Tadashi Kitomora (112), Jammie Marcosian (285), Taylor Berg (189) and Jake Daughty (171) can all qualify for the state championships and finish at least in the top six.

Schedule

Upcoming Juan Diego meets

• Tuesday - Dual meet against Alta, 7 p.m.

• Wednesday - Dual meet at North Sanpete, 7 p.m.

• Jan. 19 - Ben Lomond Tournament, TBA

• Jan. 23 - Dual meet at Carbon, 7 p.m.

• Jan. 25-26 - North Sanpete Tournament, TBA

• Jan. 29 - Dual meet against Timpanogos, 7 p.m.

• Jan. 30 - Dual meet against Emery, 7 p.m.

• Feb. 8-9 - region tournament at Carbon, TBA