The wrestling team is going into the last stretch of the season and hopes to make a statement at the Western State Conference finals scheduled Nov. 13 at Bakersfield College.
Before the conference finals, the team will go to San Luis Obispo to compete in the Cuesta Tournament.
Bill Kalivas, the head coach of the team, will be using the Cuesta Tournament to determine where his team is before the finals.
“This is our last individual tournament that we’ll go to get a good view of everyone,” said Kalivas.
Kalivas said his team still has a chance to win the WSC.
“Hopefully, depending on what type of performance, we have a shot at winning the conference,” he said. “Maybe we’ll be second, maybe we’ll be third, and maybe we’ll be fourth. A lot of it just depends on where [the team is] at mentally.”
Kalivas is hopeful that his team takes in the advice he and his coaches have given them throughout the season.
“I think [the coaching staff] has tried to prepare them physically as best as we can,” Kalivas said. “But the reality and question is who is going to try and apply it.”
Kalivas said that the conference championship would be a good indication of what the team will be like at the end, so they would just have to wait and see.
The season doesn’t end after the conference finals. The team will compete in the Fullerton State Open, then head to the Southern Regional in Victor Valley before competing in the California Community College Championships on Dec. 12-13.
Kalivas said that the Fullerton State Open would help them determine the top ten wrestlers they are going to take to the Regional and Championships in December.
Kalivas thought his team could have performed better during the season if it hadn’t suffered so many injuries, but he would take what he could get.
“Other than the beginning of the year we really haven’t been able to put a full lineup out,” he said. “In certain weight classes we’re deep, in other classes we’ve having to create someone, so we’ll wait and see.”