February 2008: Draper Journal

JDCHS Wrestling Program Headed By Familiar Face
by Catherine Garrett

Juan Diego Catholic High School’s wrestling program was started in 1999 by John Gavin, who was head coach for the next five years. During that time, the program produced two state champions and five region champions. After a break from coaching to follow his son’s wrestling career at East High School, Gavin again has taken the reins of the Soaring Eagle team for the 2007-08 season.

Gavin got his start in the sport at the age of 8. In high school, he was captain of his wrestling team for three years and held the same position at the University of Scranton (Pennsylvania) for two years. That leadership experience seemed to naturally propel him into a coaching career, which he began in 1986 at Scranton Prep High School.

Gavin said he wanted to coach to pay back what the sport gave him. “My philosophy is that improvement comes slowly and as long as there is daily improvement
and the student-athletes are having fun, success will follow,” he said.

After coaching at Scranton Prep for five years, he led the West Scranton High School wrestling team from 1991-1993 before he moved to Utah and coached at Lehi High School for the next five years.

Since coming to Juan Diego, Gavin has made wrestling a family affair. His daughter, Jessica, was the manager for the team for three years before graduating in 2003. Now, after his three-year hiatus from coaching wrestling, he has returned along with his wife, Anna, who attends all of the matches toting their toddler, Shaylee, to offer support for the team. This season, Gavin also brought his son, Matt, on board to be one of his five assistant coaches. “Matt has wanted to be a coach for as long as I can remember,” Gavin said. “This situation gives me the time to teach him and watch him grow.”

Gavin is also assisted on his squad by Chris Long, Andrew Sedillo, James Mc- Gee and Dave Heineck.

Eight wrestlers have returned from last year to the Soaring Eagle squad. Zeke Lamb (160 lbs.), Zack Petereit (140 lbs.), Devin Kallas (215 lbs.), Jamie Markosian (275 lbs.), Jake Doughty (171 lbs.), Taylor Berg (189 lbs.), Elliot Schatten (215 lbs.), and Tadashi Kitomora (112 lbs.) have been showing constant improvement this season and are expected to peek at tournament time.

Jacob Duing (103 lbs.), Cortny McComas (103 lbs.), Eric Doughty (112 lbs.), Zack Martinez (119 lbs.), Josh Vorvong (119 lbs.), Max Iatum (125 lbs.), Dustin
Poore (130 lbs.), Junki Kobai (135 lbs.), Lars Gunderson (145 lbs.), Lony Pizallo (152 lbs.), Thomas Jacobsen (152 lbs.), Alex Petereit (160 lbs.), Thomas Hicks (160 lbs.), Jordan Jochim (171 lbs.), Jeramy Spease (171 lbs.), Chase Kallas (189 lbs.), Collin Honeycutt (215 lbs.), and Tenkai Kawazoe (275 lbs.) round out Juan Diego’s wrestling team.

“Our big goal for the season is to have everyone come back next season,” Gavin said.