Trading the Pads for the Mats

Wrestling reminded David Amaya so much of playing football, he thought he’d give it a try.

“I like to throw people,” Amaya said.

Sometimes two or three at a time.

As a senior nose guard for El Camino Real High, Amaya dealt with double-team blocking on nearly every play last season. But that didn’t stop him from routinely overpowering the opposition.

Amaya, 5 feet 9 and 152 pounds, was an All-Northwest Valley Conference first-team selection.

“He just dominated,” said Terry Fischer, El Camino Real’s wrestling coach and a football assistant. “He would be double-teamed, but he would just move the pile back.”

All of which explains why Amaya finds things even easier on the wrestling mat. Against only one opponent, he usually has little trouble handling his foe.

Make that manhandling.

Amaya, who overpowers most opponents with his Greco-Roman style, is 16-1 this season, including 12 pins.

He won his division in the Harvard-Westlake, Moorpark and Arroyo tournaments and his only loss came last weekend at the Torrance tournament.

Amaya, who placed third in the City Section finals at 152 pounds last season, is a favorite to win a City title this season. But first up is an important dual meet at 7 tonight when the Conquistadores (14-3) meet defending City champion Bell.

The matchup pits two of the City’s best programs. In the past five years, Bell has won three City titles, El Camino Real two. El Camino Real defeated Bell, 47-24, in the Arroyo tournament in December.

Amaya’s ability on the football field naturally grabbed Fischer’s attention. But it was Amaya who made the first move.

A friend suggested that Amaya might enjoy wrestling. Amaya approached Fischer three years ago and became a junior varsity league champion as a sophomore.

“I like to use the upper body when I can,” Amaya said. “In football, you go after people.

“But I think I’m more of a defensive wrestler. I’m not really that aggressive, but I stick with it.”

He is, however, superbly conditioned. A body-building buff, Amaya clings fast to a Spartan-like training regimen and dietary habits that are largely responsible for his ability to maintain the same weight the past two seasons.

“He’s not a superstar, he just has a great work ethic,” Fischer said. “He’s worked his way up the ladder to the point that he’s just so good now. He’s lightning-fast on all fours.”

Amaya’s goal is to win a City title.

“I like winning,” Amaya said. “That’s the most fun.”