Mercado Places Third, Moon Takes Fourth at All City Tournament

SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Wrestling Team's season came to a close with the All-City Tournament April 5 at Sentinel High School. Of the nearly dozen wrestlers who had been participating in the inaugural program, three competed in the tournament. Sixth-grader Sean Mercado brought home a third place while eight-grader Soren Moon took fourth in his age and weight class.

Head Coach Chris Mauldin was excited to see the momentum the program gained its first year. He also enjoyed watching the team come together and focus.

An average of eight to 12 students actively participated in practices. Four on the team were fifth-graders that could not compete because the league was for sixth through eighth grades. Others just enjoyed getting in shape and learning about wrestling but did not want to compete in the meets.

"We had some kids with difficulties socially and programmatically. Sports were not typically something they would do," said Mauldin. "This was something they were able to try and all the team members really encouraged them and brought them along with them."

Maudlin thought one of the successes of the program was seeing students, who did not necessarily have the athleticism to win on the mat, still have fun, learn something and they are looking forward to coming back next season.

Mauldin said the last few practices prior to the All City Tournament, the coaches spent time one-on-one with each wrestler. They used videos, taken and edited by Assistant Coach Rob Loveman during various meets throughout the season, to work on individual techniques.

Mauldin said six schools and two clubs participated in the All City Tournament. It was an open tournament and was broken down into eight-man brackets by weight and ranked according to skill level. Moon, Mercado and sixth-grader Dakota Gonzalez wrestled for Seeley Lake.

In Moon's first match he wrestled the hardest opponent in his bracket. It was the only opponent that had pinned him all year.

"I think it got in his head a little bit," said Mauldin. "He ended up losing both of his matches but the way it was structured he ended up getting fourth."

Mauldin said while Moon was disappointed he didn't place higher, he reminded Moon that no one from Seeley Lake would have been at the tournament without him getting the program started.

"I was really proud of him for starting the program, sticking it out through the season and really leading the team," said Mauldin.

Mauldin said Mercado wrestled "extremely well despite injuries." Mercado won his first match, lost his second one in overtime on points and won his third match.

In the third match, Mercado was ahead with points and evaded his opponent because Mauldin said, "He didn't want to risk losing anything because of points."

"He wrestled extremely intelligently," said Mauldin. "I'm really excited to see what he does in the next couple of years. I think he's going to be a really strong leader for the team. He's already recruiting for next year."

Maudlin said Gonzalez wrestled really well and has some great natural instincts and reactions.

"I think another year or two of maturing, he will be another one to watch," said Mauldin.

Mauldin was thankful for the leadership of the eighth grade wrestlers Moon, Amber Koepke and Owen Mercado.

Mauldin appreciated assistant coaches Clint Harris and Loveman for their consistency and expertise. He felt all the coaches worked together and saw the benefit of the program and the development in the same way.

"They really helped me understand how to coach to the best of my abilities and brought in technical expertise and tools to fine tune things," said Mauldin.

"I'm really proud of all of the wrestlers and was happy to make a connection with every one of them," said Mauldin. "We had our ups and downs and the process of learning about each other, but overall I think the season was a really good success."

Mauldin said the plan is to continue the team next year. The coaches are hoping to hold a weeklong wrestling camp this summer. More information will be available from the wrestlers, on the SLE website and fliers will be hung up around town.