Wrestling Banquet

Mike and I attended the DPHS Wrestling Team's banquet with Kevin last Sunday. It was a delight to be among so many fine young men, full of potential! It is a great group.

Kevin really gained a lot from being on the team this year. It was such a positive experience for him. He is so well-liked and well-respected by his teammates and coaches, and parents, too.

Coach Califano had some very nice words to say about him, being a first-year wrestler and having no fear or self-confidence issues (if it's one thing Kev has, it is self-confidence!), as well as his athleticism and amazing endurance. The coach presented Kevin with a large photograph of one of his matches. It was against Ventura, the team-to-beat in the the league. Kevin's win was huge for both overall competition and for morale (not to mention morale-busting for the Ventura team!).

We enjoyed some good food, nice chats with other parents, and really enjoyed the DVD of highlights. Kevin feels part of a wonderful brotherhood. Super!

Here are some photos taken by one of the dads, Johnny Sarena. Anthony is his son, one of the seniors and team leaders. Johnny was at almost all of the matches and tournaments, belly on the floor taking pictures.

This is the picture that was presented to Kevin as a 10 x 13. I'm going to get it framed for him.

For more photos, visit my album:

Kevin's Wrestling

Wrestling Bout

I used the video setting on my camera to record Kev's match on Thursday. He won 15 points to 2.



By the way, if you ever have a wrestler in the house, be sure to get good health insurance! Whatever afflicts a wrestler has afflicted Kevin: sore rib, staph skin infection, ringworm, sprained ankle, and Thursday he went to an ENT to have a cauliflower ear hematoma evacuated. Wear your headgear, Kevin! All we're missing is a break. KNOCK ON WOOD!

Quick Wrestling Update

....Very quick! As in, 46 seconds quick. That was how long it took Kevin to pin his opponent last night. Remember the video I posted last time? Add about 15 seconds, and that is how long Kevin's match lasted last night.

We teased him that we wanted our money's worth. For every two minutes of driving time up and back to watch him in Santa Ynez, he was on the mat for one second. Geez!

He won again!

Dos Pueblos High School wrestled Channel Islands High School yesterday. Kevin did well! He beat his opponent 15-13 points. It was a hard-fought battle. The DP team won overall, but both teams did pretty well. CI had two women on their team! They both lost, but the 103-pounder did really well, nearly pinning her opponent. I think it's cool that women want to compete.

I'm finally beginning to understand the reasons why Kevin jumps between Varsity and Jr. Varsity. It has to do with which weight class any one wrestler lands in. Some lose weight, some gain, changing weight classes. And because the best in any one weight class wrestles Varsity, sometimes Kevin will be on Varsity and sometimes not.

Here are the promised pictures of Mr. Kev doing his stuff. Keep in mind, being action shots and all, some are blurry. Kevin is in all blue. His opponent has yellow on his singlet and light-colored headgear.

Ready to rumble.

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And the winner is.....

I am happy to report that I was able to successfully join the YouTube Community. Here is my first offering.




DPHS wrestles tomorrow night in Santa Ynez. Kevin will be going in with a 6-2 record. We are planning on attending. Stay tuned!

Thanks for following us along the Wrestling journey!

Man! What a man!

Kevin's wrestling career is really taking off! Last week during practice, he challenged the Varsity guy in his weight class. He lost an "epic battle" by one point. Coach decided that Kevin is talented enough to join the Varsity team! In his first season wrestling!

He came home Thursday evening after practice announcing that he had made the Varsity team, and they were going to LA the next morning for a two-day tourney!

I threw some money and food at him and wished him well. He had injured his side, but he didn't let it stop him. Though he was in considerable pain ("It hurts a lot, but when I'm wrestling the adrenaline is flowing and I don't feel it"), he wrestled four matches during the weekend , achieving a 3-1 record. One big win was against a muscled Team Captain. Kevin said it was another "epic battle," Kevin winning 15 points to 11, coming back from a 10-2 deficit. He came home with a fourth-place medal in his weight class and a "Most Distinguished Wrestler" t-shirt. His team came in third out of 18 teams.

He is 5-2 overall.

His side is hurting less, though he sat out today's practice. My worst thoughts Friday night--keeping me awake--were that it was a broken rib or a pneumothorax. Today, though, it is a little better, so I think it is a pulled muscle. I wasn't surprised that he wrestled through the pain. After all, whose son is he?

Here is his medal.






Tomorrow he has a "Dual" which means two teams battle. They are competing against Channel Islands High School. He may wrestle Jr. Varsity, as only one in each weight class competes. In any case, I'll take my camera, so watch this space!!

Wrasslin' Man

Kevin had his very first wrestling matches yesterday!

He went 2-1 yesterday, 2-0 against Righetti High School wrestlers, and he lost his match against a wrestler from the "very tough" (according to his coach) Ventura High School team. I didn't get pictures, but I'll bring my camera next time.

It was my first ever wrestling match, and it was an interesting experience. I'm starting to get an eye for things, but I think before the next match I'll read up on wrestling so I can better understand what is happening.

I've told you before that at concerts, parades, plays, and such, I get emotional at the beginning of the performance. It is a strange phenomenon within me, but I think I'm moved by a sublime moment revolving around humanity, fellowship, and art. As I watched the very first match of the afternoon (not Kevin), I got all teary. It was the same deep reaction, I think, as I get during other events, as well as seeing those bodies bend in very unusual ways. It looked painful; I wasn't sure I'd be able to handle watching Kevin.

But that feeling passed, and I was able to enjoy all the matches. It was exciting! Of course, as the afternoon wore on into evening, the wrestlers got tired and the matches got longer, and many of them became hugging matches! Still, I enjoyed it.

Kevin won his first match handily, by pinning the guy in probably less than a minute. The second one, he pinned his opponent in the second round, and was winning handily by points, and the third, he was pinned in the first round.

Congratulations, Kevin!

UPDATE: It's official. Kevin was the top scorer in the Navy SEAL challenge. Congrats, tough guy!