One of the thing that I’m going to start doing here on WrestlingTrainingMedia.com is start highlighting different individual wrestlers and college and high school wrestling teams.

Since today is the first day of the Region Championships here in Utah and since I’m an assistant coach at Skyline High School I thought it was fitting to blog about the Skyline Eagles Wrestling Team.  Go EAGLES!

STOP!

Before you read any further if you are a Skyline wrestling fan or you are talking about them on your blog or on face book you must do the following.  This is how you show your love and support for Skyline wrestling.

1.  For facebook.

Copy and paste the following code in your status:

I LOVE SKYLINE WRESTLING!

Read more about us, CLICK HERE http://bit.ly/dtBnXT

2. For your Blog.

Copy and paste the following code in the html editor on your blog.

<p style=”text-align: center;”><a href=”http://www.wrestlingtrainingmedia.com/375/skyline-wrestling-2010″ target=”_blank”><img title=”Skyline Wrestling Photo” src=”http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs159.snc3/18643_1333171695032_1403220762_30927305_751725_n.jpg” alt=”Skyline-Wrestling-Photo” width=”362″ height=”272″ /></a></p>

This will post the 2010 Skyline Wrestling team picture on your blog.

Now, Skyline has been less than impressive in the past.  In fact it has been over 10 years since Skyline had a state Champion.  In the last ten years Skyline has only claimed 9 all state spots and 4 of those spots are from guys who are currently on Skyline’s current team.  Those wrestlers are Bret Clapier, 140 lbs, placed 6th in 2007 and 4th in 2009, Derek Jessee, 119 lbs, placed 4th in 2009 and Garrett Bataglia, 189 lbs, placed 4th in 2009.  Bret and Derek have both been Freestyle state champions.

This years squad is lead by captains Derek Jesse, Bret Clapier and Garret Battaglia.  Going into their region 2 tournament they are the favorites to win due to the eagles undefeated region dual meet record.

The eagles of skyline are wrestling without 2 of their studs.  Devin Mitchell, a Junior at 160 lbs, and Kevin Tingey, a senior at 145 lbs are both out due to illness.  Those diseases seem to have a way with wrestlers right before region and state. (There is a small chance that Tingey will wrestle today.)

The xfactors for the Skyline Eagles wrestling squad will be:

103 pound Brandon Winward

Brandon ways 90 pounds and wrestles 103 lbs.  He is the smallest guy in the weight, but he has tremendous, skill, experience and mental “I don’t quitness”.  These attributes contributed to him being seeded second in region. The eagles need Brandon to step up and win in the Semi’s and the Finals.

125 pound Jess Clapier

Jess is the best wrestler on the team next to the three captains.  He spent most of the year at 130 lbs and then dropped to 125.  Due to not being at the weight for most of the region duals Clapier goes in as the number 3 seed.  A 1st place finish for Jess Clapier is a major Xfactor for the Eagles.

140 pound Bret Clapier

Bret Clapier is a two time region champ and a two time all state utah wrestler, but he is going into the region 2 tourney as a 2 seed do to a disapointing overtime loss to Spencer Brown from cottonwood at the Rocky Mountain Rumble in January 2010.  Bret is looking good and it would not be far fetched for him to upset the 1 seee, Brown.

152 pounds Christian Jackson

Christian is supposed to take second on paper, but if he can step up big and take first that will be a huge key.

Those are the Xfactors for Skyline wrestling, but every wrestler will play a role.  Vincent Fanua, at 215 needs to win the tourney as he is expected to.  Skyline’s Junior Varsity wrestlers must also step up and score some points.

In Skyline Wrestling’s team meeting last night Coach Clapier was quoted to have said, “If you will all win the matches that you are supposed to win and win at least one match that you are not supposed to win then we will win region by a landslide.”

I will keep you posted with results from the tourney below.

GO EAGLES!