Headrick Makes the Grade on Mat

Coach Mark Calentino has no doubt that Mateo Headrick is a talented wrestler.

San Clemente’s Headrick, 17, is one of the best 215-pounders in Orange County. He also has one of the widest assortment of interests.

Headrick was a starter for the San Clemente water polo team. In track and field, he is a shot putter and a sprinter. In swimming, you can find him in the freestyle sprints.

Calentino first met Headrick as a freshman during the first day of football practice.

“Here was this kid, about 6 feet 2, 190 pounds of muscle. He had his football uniform on and he was wearing construction boots. So I’m looking at him, thinking, ‘My God, who is this kid?’ And I scream, ‘Varsity is over there.’ He says, ‘I’m a freshman.’ I just stared.”

Although he enjoys participating in all these sports, Headrick enjoys wrestling the most.

“It’s you and the other guy,” Headrick said. “No teams, nobody to count on and nobody to help you when you’re in trouble. It really tests your character.”

One problem area for him has been academics. His wrestling season was cut short last year after he failed four classes.

Headrick had lost only two matches and had easily won a South Coast League title. He was ready for the section finals, but his schoolwork caught up with him.

“He was literally in shock when he was told he couldn’t go on to section finals because of his grades,” Calentino said. “He was just ignorant of the rules. And there’s no doubt in my mind that he would have won Division I and would have had a shot at placing at state.”

Before Calentino knew Headrick was ineligible for section finals, he had seeded Headrick first at 215 pounds.

When Anaheim Coach Joe Marks returned from state finals in Stockton, he called Calentino.

“Joe told me my boy [Headrick] would have won state,” Calentino said. “That was tough. I’d just hoped that this would have been a learning experience for Mateo.”

Headrick is confident he won’t make the same mistake again.

“I’ve always been my biggest opponent,” Headrick said. “I have no excuses. And it’s not that I can’t do the work. I don’t know, it [school work] just didn’t seem that important.”

Because his mother and stepfathers live in Santa Cruz, Headrick lives with the family of a teammate so he can finish his senior year at San Clemente. With his host family and his wrestling coaches constantly on him about his studies, Headrick has been keeping pace in the classroom.

“Coach [Calentino] is there almost every night to make sure I keep up with my homework, so I’m getting a lot of help,” Headrick said.

Headrick said he wants to go to college and continue his wrestling. But right now, he is focused on this season.

Two weeks ago at the El Dorado Tournament, Headrick beat Calvary Chapel’s Josh Saul, 6-1, for the championship. Before that tournament, Saul was ranked first in the county and just last week, Saul beat a nationally ranked wrestler in the Ohio Ironman Tournament.

“I think I can beat anybody I wrestle,” Headrick said. “I still have a lot to learn. I’m working on my technique, but I think I’ll do good.”

And the grades?

“Oh that’ll be fine,” he said. “I just have to be as competitive in the classroom as I am on the mat.”