LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – As the wrestling season moves forward, Los Alamitos High School wrestling has welcomed three new faces to the program.
Coach Ruiz, the head wrestling coach, has been coaching for 30 years and is in his eighth year of coaching at LAHS. He also runs a wrestling club and workshops in the off-season.
This year, Mr. Ruiz has gained three new assistant wrestling coaches: Mr. Schwartz, Mr. Morio and Mr. Morrell. Mr. Schwartz was a girls’ wrestling coach at Lakewood High School before coming to coach for LAHS. Mr. Morio is a former LAHS wrestler who returned to assist Coach Ruiz. Mr. Morrell wrestled for Mayfair High School and Cerritos College before becoming an assistant coach at LAHS.
“I’m a big fan of team-building, so I do a lot of team-building exercises. If (the wrestlers) can be CIF champs in their own right as an individual because it’s an individual and team sport, then they both take care of each other, but it starts with the team,” Coach Ruiz said.
The Griffin athletes look forward to having more coaches around to help during practice.
“I’m hoping that having more coaches will bring more people to the team. Each person can offer different things so it can help the team improve,” junior Sasha Farajian said.
The wrestling season started in November, but it continues year-round with wrestling clubs and workshops. If you are interested in joining the wrestling team, speak to Coach Ruiz or visit the Activities Office.
“I think it’s a fun way to exercise. I think it’s not as crazy and intense and fighting as people think it is,” Farajian said.
Girls wrestling’s next meet is at Newport Harbor High School on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Come out to support boys and girls wrestling!
