Athletes putting in work in preparation for winter season
The Windsor High School wrestling team has been among the most successful in California for the past 15 years under head coach Rich Carnation, a run that has elevated the program to elite status.
During that span, the Jaguars have achieved the nearly impossible, sending a contingent of athletes to the elite CIF State Championship Tournament in Bakersfield each season.
This year alone, Windsor sent a record five kids to State, including senior North Coast Section champions Dominic DuCharme, Beau Colombini and Anthony Spallino, along with senior Joe Valdes and sophomore Perez David Perez.
Despite graduating four of their five state qualifiers, the Jaguars may not skip a beat next season with the infusion of another group of talented freshmen.
“We’ve been fortunate with a lot of great wrestlers over the years, but when kids graduate we expect others to step in and fill their shoes,” Carnation reflected. “I’ve had a lot of help – we’ve had great athletes and coaches. The bottom line is you have to have the horses, you can’t win the Preakness with a Shetland pony.”
The remarkable success of the program has had everything to do with the team’s high standards and overall work ethic, with an off-season regimen that includes running, regular weight training sessions, summer camps and tournaments.
“Some of our kids have really been working hard this summer, doing the things they need to do to get better,” Carnation said. “Incoming seniors Aidan Henry and Steven Allee have both competed in high level Greco Roman and Freestyle tournaments and have shown a lot of improvement.”
In June, the Jaguars held a wrestling camp conducted by former All American and current Boise State assistant head coach Andrew Hockstrosser, drawing a big turnout of 50 kids.
In addition, many of the team’s returning athletes attended a three-day camp at Spanish Springs High School near Reno, followed by the John Acevedo Camp in Squaw Valley.
This week, four of Windsor’s wrestlers are heading off to the prestigious two-week J. Robinson Camp in Bakersfield, an event that draws many of the top athletes in the state.
“All the off-season work our kids put in is important, especially since we’ll be a young team in the lightweight divisions next season,” Carnation said. “We expect to have a very good team again next year.”
One thing is certain when opposing teams square off against the Jaguars next winter – they won’t be taking them lightly.
