The Waterford High School Wrestling Team, under the guidance of Coach Rick LaFerriere, is back this season with the mission to win their league championships and the Masters Dual Meet Championships, as well as finish as the highest placing Div. 6 school in Div. 5 Individual championships. With the nucleus of team captains Ryan Espinoza and Daniel Mercado returning, the team is looking to make a splash. In order to succeed, Waterford is relying on the skill and dedication of top returning players from last season such as Ryan Espinoza, a strong and quick 144lbs wrestler entering his third year, and Daniel Mercado, a very agile 215lbs third-year wrestler who is also very knowledgeable. This season there will also be new players such as Noah Rollins, Jesus Serrano, and Wyatt Towe at 120lbs, 140lbs, and 113lbs respectively, who will be expected to make an immediate impact on the team. The quality of a team captain is very important, and Coach LaFerriere looks for captains who can motivate their teammates that are less experienced and be able to set an example. He, along with the other coaches, choose them based on their ability to lead. To build camaraderie and team chemistry this season, Coach LaFerriere has come up with competitive activities, separate from wrestling itself, which typically occur at tournaments. It's essential for a coach to be able to motivate his players to reach their full potential, and Coach LaFerriere does this by pointing out examples of players who are doing something right and then using those examples to suggest how the rest of the team should be performing. There also is emphasis on stories of past experiences. One of the biggest challenges for the team this season is filling out the all 14 weights. The added pressure of finding wrestlers to fill these spots only adds to the difficulty of getting Waterford ready for competition. The team’s schedule is full of tough opponents they will face but also allows the wrestlers to take part in some JV tournaments as well. However, the team may have a tough time in the league due to the California only having one championship for all schools, no matter the size. This raises an unfair disadvantage as larger schools have more access to coaches, facilities, and can pay for camps and tournaments during the off season. When it comes to coaching style, Coach LaFerriere believes in being consistent and organized from season to season, while also incorporating new techniques they may have picked up in the off season. He also is very aware of the importance of the mental game, noting that at higher levels, it is 90% mental and 10% physical. To continue to improve their training and conditioning program, the team is being pushed to do more running and calisthenics on their own, helping to capitalize on their strengths and improve on their weaknesses. Speaking of the strengths and weaknesses of the team, Coach LaFerriere knows they have most of the wrestlers from last year returning with a couple of newcomers. The weakness of the team is in not having all the weight classes full. Waterford High School and Coach LaFerriere are hoping their hard work and commitment to excellence pays off with success this year. The athletes know they have to be dedicated in order to improve, and with this in mind, academics come first and they know that anyone can become a champion, if they put in the time and effort. Fans and supporters of the team should know that they will need to travel to nearby competitions to cheer on the wrestlers as there are only two home matches this season. We wish the Waterford High School Wrestling Team all the best this season and can’t wait to see the results of their hard work on the mat!

Come out and show your support for the WATERFORD HIGH SCHOOL football team in 2024 by purchasing a digital game program! Your purchase will celebrate our players and staff accomplishments and feature sponsors that make our program possible. Buy early and become an honorary member of the WATERFORD team! #WHSfootball #SportsFans #SponsorLove #GoWHS

Our team has big ambitions this season! We want to Win our league, take the Masters Dual Meet Championships, and finish as a top Div. 6 school in the Div. 5 Individual championships! It won’t be easy, but with hard work, determination and a spirit of excellence, we can reach our goals! #TeamGoals #BeExcellent #HardWorkPaysOff #WinningAttitude

Heading into the new season, Ryan Espinoza (144lbs) and Daniel Mercado (215lbs) are the top returning players from last season! Ryan’s strong and very quick, making him especially hard to contain on the mat, while Daniel's agility for a heavy weight and wrestling knowledge allows him to outsmart opponents. Both are entering their 3rd year, so it's #ExperienceOverEverything - who's ready to see how their #UnstoppablePower keeps them at the top? #TopReturningPlayers #FierceCompetition #MoreToCome #WrestlingCulture

Just when you thought this team couldn't get any better - the additions of Noah Rollins, Jesus Serrano, and Wyatt Towe are sure to make an immediate impact! Welcome these outstanding, hardworking wrestlers to the team. #newteamplayers #impactplayers #studentathletes #highschoolwrestling #bigwinsahead

A team captain should lead by example; they should be the player their teammates can look up to and rely on for guidance and motivation. Captains should be able to inspire and unite the team, encouraging them to work and play with passion, and to abide by team rules. The coaches decide on which players should be captains based on those qualities. The players that often have these qualities and are in the running for the captain role are those who have been on the team for a while, who have great sportsmanship and respect for the game and their opponents, who persevere and work hard, and whose dedication and dedication to the team is above and beyond. The coaches look for these qualities to decide which players will be captains or in the running for the captain role.

#TeamChemistry and #Camaraderie are essential elements for any successful wrestling team, and this season we plan to do our best to foster these values among our athletes. To make sure everyone on our team feels comfortable with one another and works together as a unit, we will be incorporating team-building activities and friendly competitions that don't involve wrestling as the focus. Additionally, we understand that spending time together away from the mat, like at tournaments, facilitates deeper connections and understanding, so we are committed to fostering an atmosphere of trust and collaboration in all aspects of our team. #WrestlingTeam #Trust #Collaboration

Great teams know that motivation is key in order to reach your full potential! We believe that encouragement and support are essential in pushing ourselves to our next best level. We strive to call attention to moments where our team members do something right, celebrating our collective achievements. It's also inspiring to draw on our past experiences to show what we achieved together before — it's the perfect way to encourage our players to strive for something greater. #teamwork #motivation #encouragement #empowerment #success

Preparing for this upcoming season has presented some major obstacles. The main challenge lies in finding wrestlers to fill all 14 weight classes. Recruiting new athletes, as well as encouraging veteran wrestlers to train hard and maintain their weight is no easy task. Extra effort and dedication will be necessary to ensure a successful season. #wrestling #weightclass #athleticrecruiting #training #dedication

We are looking forward to a challenging tournament for our Varsity wrestlers. We are expecting some competitive matches and to put up a fight. Our hope is to take home top honors and prove that size doesn't matter! We have been preparing hard, pushing ourselves to be the best, and making sure we are ready to give it our all on the mat!

As coaches, it's essential to stay on top of the latest techniques and tactics. We strive to stay ahead of the curve, and this season we are bringing something new to the table! However, we never forget the value in keeping our coaching style consistent throughout the years, and organizing our approach for the best possible result. #coaching #learning #consistency #organization #teamwork #success

The mental aspect of the game is just as important for your team as the physical. As wrestling at higher levels is 90% mental and only 10% physical, it is essential to both stay motivated and understand how to use losses to improve. In the end, all that really matters is not how many wins or losses you have, but if you achieve a championship or not. #mentalaspect #wrestling #nevergiveup #believeinyourself

#ChangeIsGood! We are proud to share the updates we are making to our team's training and conditioning program: more running and calisthenics are now part of the routine. We are excited to help our players take their fitness game to a whole new level. #FitnessGoals #TrainHard #Conditioning

As we look toward the new season, our team is excited to see the return of many strong wrestlers from last year to bolster our roster. We are working hard to fill all our weight classes and continue perfecting our technique. With these combined strengths, we have a strong foundation to build upon, but still recognize opportunities to improve. #teamstrength #teamwork #makethemwork #winningseason #rollthemat

#Coaching #Philosophy #Teamwork We believe in empowering our wrestlers with the fundamental techniques of the sport so that they can use them to their advantage on the playing field. Our team focuses on technique and emphasises correct and consistent skill development. We believe that with the right coaching, athletes can overcome even the toughest opponents. Our philosophy has resulted in our team achieving success through practice and technique rather than brute force and speed. #Success #Teamwork #Perserverance

This season we're implementing some new offensive and defensive strategies! We plan to employ more upper body techniques to increase our team's agility and power - meaning even more aggressive play! #teamgame #strategy #sportstechniques

Communication is essential to our team's success - even though we #wrestle on a mat and not a court or field! During breaks in the match, coaches and wrestlers alike pause to ensure they know what is expected of them in the upcoming moments. With a strong sense of communication, we're confident our team will become champions! #CommunicationMatters #TeamSuccess #WinningTheMat

Finding balance between academics and sports is key for players that are student-athletes. Students must first be good students, and then use those same skills to become great athletes. As coaches, it’s our responsibility to help our players prioritize and manage their time in order to reach their highest potential in both the classroom and on the mat. #studentathlete #balance #education #wrestling #sports #motivation

It's been an incredible season for our team and we are so grateful for all the support from our fans and supporters! Unfortunately, we only have two home matches left, so if you really want to show your commitment and support us, you'll need to travel to the closest competitions. #GoTeam #RaiseItUp #BelieveInYourTeam #WeAreOne

The Waterford High School Wrestling Team, under the guidance of Coach Rick LaFerriere, is back this season with the mission to win their league championships and the Masters Dual Meet Championships, as well as finish as the highest placing Div. 6 school in Div. 5 Individual championships. With the nucleus of team captains Ryan Espinoza and Daniel Mercado returning, the team is looking to make a splash. In order to succeed, Waterford is relying on the skill and dedication of top returning players from last season such as Ryan Espinoza, a strong and quick 144lbs wrestler entering his third year, and Daniel Mercado, a very agile 215lbs third-year wrestler who is also very knowledgeable. This season there will also be new players such as Noah Rollins, Jesus Serrano, and Wyatt Towe at 120lbs, 140lbs, and 113lbs respectively, who will be expected to make an immediate impact on the team. The quality of a team captain is very important, and Coach LaFerriere looks for captains who can motivate their teammates that are less experienced and be able to set an example. He, along with the other coaches, choose them based on their ability to lead. To build camaraderie and team chemistry this season, Coach LaFerriere has come up with competitive activities, separate from wrestling itself, which typically occur at tournaments. It's essential for a coach to be able to motivate his players to reach their full potential, and Coach LaFerriere does this by pointing out examples of players who are doing something right and then using those examples to suggest how the rest of the team should be performing. There also is emphasis on stories of past experiences. One of the biggest challenges for the team this season is filling out the all 14 weights. The added pressure of finding wrestlers to fill these spots only adds to the difficulty of getting Waterford ready for competition. The team’s schedule is full of tough opponents they will face but also allows the wrestlers to take part in some JV tournaments as well. However, the team may have a tough time in the league due to the California only having one championship for all schools, no matter the size. This raises an unfair disadvantage as larger schools have more access to coaches, facilities, and can pay for camps and tournaments during the off season. When it comes to coaching style, Coach LaFerriere believes in being consistent and organized from season to season, while also incorporating new techniques they may have picked up in the off season. He also is very aware of the importance of the mental game, noting that at higher levels, it is 90% mental and 10% physical. To continue to improve their training and conditioning program, the team is being pushed to do more running and calisthenics on their own, helping to capitalize on their strengths and improve on their weaknesses. Speaking of the strengths and weaknesses of the team, Coach LaFerriere knows they have most of the wrestlers from last year returning with a couple of newcomers. The weakness of the team is in not having all the weight classes full. Waterford High School and Coach LaFerriere are hoping their hard work and commitment to excellence pays off with success this year. The athletes know they have to be dedicated in order to improve, and with this in mind, academics come first and they know that anyone can become a champion, if they put in the time and effort. Fans and supporters of the team should know that they will need to travel to nearby competitions to cheer on the wrestlers as there are only two home matches this season. We wish the Waterford High School Wrestling Team all the best this season and can’t wait to see the results of their hard work on the mat!