Lions wrestling program off to strong start, look to continue winning on the mat

One meet into the wrestling season, the Cathedral City Lions already have a champion.

In her first year on the team senior Mai Joy Wooten finished first in a 36 team tournament at Capo Valley high school in Laguna Beach. And just last season she was part of the CIF finalist girls basketball team.

“I’m more the aggressive person the off the ball type of player, the defense the grab the rebounds, you know the tough person.

So I thought, what sport can I join that’s going to complement me and my aggressiveness? So I decided to join wrestling to become an independent athlete.”

The boys team traveled to Beaumont and freshman Isiah Morales finished second to a senior in his first high school tournament.

“I kinda grew up with it cause my cousins and my brother did it. So I kinda grew up watching it and I always wanted to be here…and I always wanted to be in high school doing wrestling…so now’s the time and I’m here now.”

Their head coach says team chemistry is the key to their success.

“We’re just a close team and I think sometimes when you have a team of people that will fight for each other its more important than having that finesse and years of training.

So with 22 wrestlers and having a majority of them being freshman and sophomore we’ll be good for years to come.

Sophomore Justin Ceballos finished third in Beaumont.

“Only lost once, I went 4 and 1 that day, I only lost by points. Sometimes we don’t even want to go to practice my partner Isiah he’s there he pushes me.”

And Alex Garcia finished second in a Halloween tournament and 3rd at Capo Valley.

“I’m nervous but everyone gets nervous, but then in my head like alright I got this, I’m just confident.”