This upcoming season, the Valley High School wrestling team is primed for an exciting run. Led by Coach David Caldwell, the team is made up of top returning players and a few new faces ready to make an immediate impact this year.

The goal of the team is simple but powerful; to teach kids to become better people through the course of the wrestling season.

Top returning players from last year’s team include Oscar Dominguez, Alex Andrade, Thy Kwat, Danae Dixon, Adrain Rico, and Muhibden Faruk. Each of these players bring unique qualities and attributes to the team, making them integral pieces to the puzzle.

New recruit Gabe Waltrip is also expected to make an immediate impact on the team this season. In coach Caldwell’s initial assessment of Waltrip, he noted him “as a young wrestler with tremendous upside”.

Team chemistry and camaraderie is a large part of any successful team, and Coach Caldwell plans on implementing it early. From commitment to each other and hard work to team bonding days of food and fun, fostering a winning environment is always an important part of the process.

Qualities such as leadership and maturity are traits Coach Caldwell looks for in prospective team captains. This year the captains will be Alex Andrade and Oscar Dominguez, with Muhibden Faruk heavily in the mix for a prominent leadership role as well.

Motivation for players can come in many different forms. Coach Caldwell places an emphasis on making goals for players and providing them a path to achieve said goals. He puts an obsession on hard work and practice, stressing to players that if they perform now, the matches will be easy later on.

The biggest challenges the team has been facing in preparation for the season involves filling out all weight classes and maintaining scholastic eligibility. Coach Caldwell and his staff have done a tremendous job of recruiting and providing support to the team.

The schedule looks to be as difficult as ever with mostly all bigger schools being on the docket. Of course no team preview is complete without the anticipation of the Laguna game, which last year resulted in an impressive 55-26 win for Valley High School.

When asked if his coaching style has differed from previous seasons, Caldwell was quick to point out the difference between “begging for wrestling” and only taking wrestlers who are “committed”.

The mental aspect of the game cannot be understated, and Coach Caldwell’s emphasis towards the importance of it is strong. He believes that is the hardest hurdle his players must jump in order to be successful as a team.

This year’s training and conditioning program is similar to years past. With the proper diet making up a large percentage of the work dedicated to this area, consistency has been a key to the team’s preparation.

Strengths of the team come from both within the roster and as a collective unit. Weaknesses are mainly in the form of shaky confidence which Coach Caldwell and his staff are constantly fighting to keep a lid on.

The coaching philosophy of the team is clearcut; work hard in practice so matches become easier to win. This is where the true challenge lies in Coach Caldwell’s system; as once the team starts winning, it only motivates them to keep coming back for more.

As far as plans for schemes and plays, Valley High School is in the midst of a much harder schedule this year which focuses on earning every point rather than expecting them to come easily.

Finally, communication is just as important to the team as anything else. Caldwell’s team understands that while it’s not always easy, they must come to practice prepared and ready, so they can remain focused on the task at hand during matches.

Balancing sports and academics for the team is all about holding players accountable to themselves. With consistent communication between players, coaches, and teachers, support is provided, and success is achieved.

To the fans and supporters of Valley High School wrestling, Coach Caldwell sends his thanks. “We couldn’t do it without the support of teachers, administrators, facilities, and maintenance”.

All in all, this season looks to be an exciting one for the Valley High School wrestling team. With the key pieces and coaching staff in place, nothing but success awaits this year’s roster.