Moorpark College Sends 5 Wrestlers to State Meet

Vince Plymire decided to wrestle for Moorpark College after having lunch just once with John Keever.

His decision was not based on Keever’s table manners but on the Moorpark coach’s attitude.

“He’s not a wimp coach,” said Plymire, a sophomore heavyweight from Channel Islands High. “He likes to go out and kick butt, just like I do.”

Keever’s teams have won 12 Western State Conference titles in 20 years. And he has coached numerous state champions, including Plymire, who won a state title last year as a freshman. Plymire is 1 of 5 Moorpark wrestlers competing in the state championships today and Saturday at El Camino College.

Plymire and Raider freshman Serge Mezheritsky, ranked No. 2 in the state at 142 pounds, are favorites to win titles in their weight classes. Those two and 190-pound Carson Wollert each won their weight divisions at the South-Central regional last week.

Eric Millsap (118) and Manuel Gallegos (158) of Moorpark each placed second and also qualified for the state meet.

“We have some tradition here and the program just seems to perpetuate itself from year to year,” said Keever.