CLOSE-UP : Moorpark’s Wrestling Team Scores a Reversal From Winless to Unbeaten in Tri-Valley League

After Moorpark High resurrected its wrestling program last season after a seven-year layoff, the results were predictable. Moorpark finished with a 3-11 overall record and didn’t win a league dual meet.

But a year later, a little experience has moved the Musketeers to the top of the Tri-Valley League standings. Moorpark is 13-2 overall, 8-0 in league and ranked 10th the Southern Section 1-A coaches poll.

Craig Sanders took over the coaching duties this season from Fran Fredette, who is now Moorpark’s track coach. Fredette has seen the program benefit from a year’s experience.

“The biggest problem last year was that none of our wrestlers could practice against any other kids that had some experience. You’re not going to get better if you constantly go against a bad wrestler,” he said.

So Fredette and Sanders teamed to give wrestling exposure at Moorpark. They offered a recreational class in the summer, followed by a fall class on campus. Sanders also got an added bonus: assistant coach Rob Berger.

The Musketeers are led by sophomore Gau Diaz, who wrestles in the 100-pound division. Last season, Diaz finished second in league and won the L.A. Summer Games by pinning seven opponents in one day. This year, Diaz is unbeaten in league dual meets, including Moorpark’s 32-31 upset victory over Agoura earlier this month.

“That win over Agoura was the key to the season,” said Sanders. “We told the kids they had the potential to win, even though we’d lost the previous year by something like 56-9.”

Earlier that week, Mike Madrid failed to make weight and had to wrestle in a higher division, forcing Sanders to promote Dee J. Marinda from the junior varsity.

Both wrestlers opened the meet with pins.