February is not the best month to take a dip in Lake Siskiyou, but it looks like Mt. Shasta wrestling coach Rick Deruyter will be taking the plunge. Why? He told his team of five that if they all qualified for the upcoming sectional championships that he would. Well, at last weekend’s NSCIF Division III/IV Championship in Tulelake, all five wrestlers placed in the top four for their weight class, with three going to the championship round.
“I am so very proud of all the wrestlers on the team. At the beginning of the season, I made a bet with them saying if they all go to Sections, I would jump in the lake. Well, former MSHS Coach Kim Baldi started that bet. I just thought it would be a good one to carry on. I just never thought it could be done,” said Deruyter.
Going into last Saturday’s championship round, the team ranked sixth (out of 20 team) in the overall tournament which, according to assistant coach Art Kameda, was outstanding, given the diminutive size of the team. “A lot of the schools here have full teams (of at least fourteen wrestlers),” he said. “Some of them will have wrestle-offs to see who gets to compete at any given weight class. It is outstanding that a team our size is ranked so high.”
Making it to the Championship round at the Tulelake Division tournament were Marcus Buchanan (132), Mathew Buchanan (137) and Andre Degray (189). Though none of these wrestlers won their final matches, they all made strong showings and secured their places at Sections.
For Marcus Buchanan, his championship match against Willow’s Aaron Garcia was a slug fest to the bitter end, with a final score of 6-5. “Marcus battled all the way to the end of the match but could not pull off a win against the technician who kept the tempo of the bout in his favor,” said Deruyter.
Marcus, who is a senior this year, has yet to win a division championship, coming in second to Portola's Tanner Hermann last year. “Marcus has set his sights on next weeks Masters Championships where he will have the opportunity to try for State Championships again,” said Deruyter.
Matthew Buchanan took second as well, losing to the state’s second ranked wrestler for the weight class, Cody Pack. “Before the match, Matthew said his goal was not to get pinned or tech'd. He almost achieved both,” said Deruyter. “Wrestling in a heavier weight class, Matthew is holding his own and has the chance to do very well at Sections.”
Also fairing well at Tulelake was heavyweight Kenny Ingraham (217), who took a second place, as well. “Kenny was wrestling strong through the entire day,” said Deruyter. “After missing most of the season last year, he has managed to come back strong. Pinning two of his three opponents, he is poised to do real well next week.”
Though not making it to the championship round, Andre DeGray (191) and Tyler Witherell (287) both fared well at the tournament, with Degray taking a 3rd and Witherall a fourth.
“The final match was strong for Andre...He was able to use moves that he has learned over the past few weeks,” said Deruyter. “What a great victory for the Senior who just found out he was accepted to Cal Poly San Louis Obispo. Both his mother and father were there to see his win. It was probably a very proud moment for his father, Jack Degray, who wrestled in high school himself. The team is fortunate to have a guy like Jack around, he comes to practice and rolls with the team.”
Tyler Witherell (287) took a 4th place. “This is the first time Witherell has placed this high at Divisions,” said Deruyter, expressing his overall enthusiasm for the wrestler.
Speaking about his upcoming swim, Deruyter said, “I guess the joke is on me. I would love to have Baldi join me in those frigid waters. Just come on out Kim.”
The Bears will travel to Redding for the Northern Section Masters Championships on Feb. 26 and 27.
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February is not the best month to take a dip in Lake Siskiyou, but it looks like Mt. Shasta wrestling coach Rick Deruyter will be taking the plunge. Why? He told his team of five that if they all qualified for the upcoming sectional championships that he would. Well, at last weekend’s NSCIF Division III/IV Championship in Tulelake, all five wrestlers placed in the top four for their weight class, with three going to the championship round.
“I am so very proud of all the wrestlers on the team. At the beginning of the season, I made a bet with them saying if they all go to Sections, I would jump in the lake. Well, former MSHS Coach Kim Baldi started that bet. I just thought it would be a good one to carry on. I just never thought it could be done,” said Deruyter.
Going into last Saturday’s championship round, the team ranked sixth (out of 20 team) in the overall tournament which, according to assistant coach Art Kameda, was outstanding, given the diminutive size of the team. “A lot of the schools here have full teams (of at least fourteen wrestlers),” he said. “Some of them will have wrestle-offs to see who gets to compete at any given weight class. It is outstanding that a team our size is ranked so high.”
Making it to the Championship round at the Tulelake Division tournament were Marcus Buchanan (132), Mathew Buchanan (137) and Andre Degray (189). Though none of these wrestlers won their final matches, they all made strong showings and secured their places at Sections.
For Marcus Buchanan, his championship match against Willow’s Aaron Garcia was a slug fest to the bitter end, with a final score of 6-5. “Marcus battled all the way to the end of the match but could not pull off a win against the technician who kept the tempo of the bout in his favor,” said Deruyter.
Marcus, who is a senior this year, has yet to win a division championship, coming in second to Portola's Tanner Hermann last year. “Marcus has set his sights on next weeks Masters Championships where he will have the opportunity to try for State Championships again,” said Deruyter.
Matthew Buchanan took second as well, losing to the state’s second ranked wrestler for the weight class, Cody Pack. “Before the match, Matthew said his goal was not to get pinned or tech'd. He almost achieved both,” said Deruyter. “Wrestling in a heavier weight class, Matthew is holding his own and has the chance to do very well at Sections.”
Also fairing well at Tulelake was heavyweight Kenny Ingraham (217), who took a second place, as well. “Kenny was wrestling strong through the entire day,” said Deruyter. “After missing most of the season last year, he has managed to come back strong. Pinning two of his three opponents, he is poised to do real well next week.”
Though not making it to the championship round, Andre DeGray (191) and Tyler Witherell (287) both fared well at the tournament, with Degray taking a 3rd and Witherall a fourth.
“The final match was strong for Andre...He was able to use moves that he has learned over the past few weeks,” said Deruyter. “What a great victory for the Senior who just found out he was accepted to Cal Poly San Louis Obispo. Both his mother and father were there to see his win. It was probably a very proud moment for his father, Jack Degray, who wrestled in high school himself. The team is fortunate to have a guy like Jack around, he comes to practice and rolls with the team.”
Tyler Witherell (287) took a 4th place. “This is the first time Witherell has placed this high at Divisions,” said Deruyter, expressing his overall enthusiasm for the wrestler.
Speaking about his upcoming swim, Deruyter said, “I guess the joke is on me. I would love to have Baldi join me in those frigid waters. Just come on out Kim.”
The Bears will travel to Redding for the Northern Section Masters Championships on Feb. 26 and 27.
