OAKHURST — Five Yosemite High School wrestlers joined forty-eight other teams in the Dinuba High School Invitational held Jan. 3 – 4.
Badger wrestlers and their tournament results include:
- 106 lb. = 0 Wins – 2 Losses
- 113 lb. Junior Peter (PJ) Kuzmitski = 2 Wins – 2 Losses
- 145 lb. Sophomore Trevon Nguyen = 0 Wins – 2 Losses
- 152 lb. Junior Nicolas Guynn = 4 Wins – 1 Loss, Medaling Third Place
- 170 lb. Junior Justin Micallef = 3 Wins – 3 Losses, Medaling Eighth Place
Junior Justin Micallef
Kuzmitski, who lost his lower right leg after a football practice injury his freshman year, won over the cheering crowd as he powerfully wrestled competitive matches with speed and quick break-a-ways. He battled to the end of each of his four matches.
Kuzmitski learned to develop his conditioning and strength building skills at a week-long, intensive wrestling camp hosted by Fresno State University in July. Chukchansi Tribal Council generously sponsored Kuzmitski and seven other youth and high school Badger wrestlers at the camp.
“Wrestling is the best sport to build character,” explained Kuzmitski. “Everyone works so hard. The sport is really under appreciated. We work so much harder than the other sports. The more you work, the better the pay off will be in wrestling. That is why most everyone in this sport has such good character,” he said.
Sophomore Jimmy McCurry
Head Coach Kent Lincoln explained, “The Dinuba tournament taught us what we need to focus on at practice to better prepare for league and CIF.”
A larger YHS team will travel to Firebaugh’s JV and Varsity Westside Classic Tournament Jan. 10-11.
2019 Yosemite Badger Youth Wrestling appreciates the following sponsors: Chukchansi Tribal Council, Dr. Shannon Barnhart, Golden Hills Dental, and Joe Stern Water Conditioning.
