Coaches: Matthew Acosta (head coach), Fernando Mora (assistant coach), Ethan Nguyen (assistant coach)

Top Returning Wrestlers: Derek Edwards (12), Cristian Gomez (12), Caleb Kim (11), Gavin Kim (10), Liam Kim (12), Lyon Kwon (12)

Top Newcomers: Michael Amescua (12), Hunter Hsieh (11),  Daniel Mora (9), David Ontiveros (10)

Last Season: The boys wrestling team ended with a 3-2 Freeway League record. Nevertheless, nine wrestlers made the CIF tournament, and team captain Kwon qualified for the second day before getting eliminated.

Outlook: The Lancers look to overcome their challenges and place in the Top 3 in the Freeway League. 

“Last [season], we started off really strong, but the [farther] we got [in the season], we got more drained, and by the time we hit CIF, their mentality was at an all-time low,” Nguyen said. “That’s why this year, we’re trying to push on their mentality.”

Kwon said that’s also a goal of his.

“[Our team] needs to be there for each other and help each other learn skills and techniques on how to have a [winner’s] mindset,” he said. “We need to get our mindset locked in on our goals this season.”

His individual goals call for improvement as well.

“I’ve planned to go past CIF and probably into CIF Masters,” the captain said.

Ontiveros said the preseason practices and tournaments have been helpful in helping him adjust to the sport.

“In my first two tournaments, I wasn’t doing really good; then in my next tournament, I had more experience so I did way better than before,” he said.

Nguyen said he has high hopes for the Lancers this season.

“I have no doubt in my mind that if our wrestlers here are working, they can become champion[s],” the assistant coach said.

The Lancers lost against Sonora in their Freeway League opener at home on Wednesday, Nov. 29.

“Even though we didn’t win and had a short line up due to those injured, we put up a good fight and everyone wrestled with their hearts out,” Kwon said. “There is room for us to improve small details that we need to fix but I feel we are on a steady road to success.”

The Lancers will next face Fullerton Union High School [FUHS] in an away match at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6 in the FUHS gym.