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AV Judo's Jeff Merrill (Lancaster HS) and Eric Timson (AV HS) Acclaimed!
New-look Highland seeks same results
PALMDALE - Highland High's wrestling team is hoping a new look brings familiar results.
For the first time in years, the Bulldogs have no returning Southern Section medalists and just one defending
league champion. Expectations nonetheless remain high for a program that has won Golden League titles 12
of the past 13 years, including the last three.
"Normally, we do have more returnees, but I think we're going to be just as good this year," said senior Josh
Purpose, the league's defending 125-pound champion. "Knowing that we're missing so many people, we need
to step it up this year."
Purpose is among a group of talented wrestlers longtime Highland coach Michael Young believes can progress
to elite status as the season progresses. Junior Ryan Gifford (152), a runner-up last season, and senior Paul Petros (130) and junior Randy Wallerstein (140), who finished third and fourth in league last season, are the most notable wrestlers with the potential
make an impact. Seniors Heath Ikahihifo (189), the younger brother of former Highland standout John, and Robert Davis (215)
are among those Young believes can be standouts, too.
Highland hasn't had a state qualifier since 2003.
"We don't really have any stallions," Young said. "I think we will by the end of the year, but right now we have
a lot of mules and they all pull together."
Highland's depth will be a factor as it tries to fend off challenges from emerging league powers Littlerock,
Antelope Valley, Lancaster and Quartz Hill.
Littlerock, which interrupted Highland's title run with a league championship in 2002, features Ryan Cambaliza (215) and Antelope Valley has Eric Timson (145), the league's top two wrestlers and Southern Section medalists.
Lancaster features standouts Jeff Merrill (112) and Kevin Plunkett (215). Quartz Hill is led by Jason Fonze
(275) and Russell Curry (171).
"I just think all the juniors and seniors need to step it up and help the freshmen and sophomores step up,
" Purpose said. "If we do that, we'll be successful."
It is an unfamiliar role for those who in years past took their cues from standouts Steve Frehn and Kyle Burnett.
"They had intensity when they wrestled," Purpose said. "We're trying to bring what we learned from them to the
new guys."
Said Gifford: "I feel like everybody looks up to us and expects to go out and win every match. They watch what
we're doing in practices. If we slack off, we know they're going to slack off. If we're working hard, then they're going to work hard, too."
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