LYNDEN
LIONS
Coach: Santos Gallegos
Last year: Did not compile a record in dual meets. ... Placed seventh at regionals and had three wrestlers advance to state. ... Finished 17th at the state tournament with 31 points and had Marissa Veliz place fourth at 170 and Luisa Garcia place sixth at 265.
Wrestlers to watch: Luisa Garcia (Sr., 190); Natalie Martinez (Sr., 100-106); Gaby Herrera (Jr., 124-130); Nelly Medina (Jr., 100-106); Laura Medina (Jr., 100-106)
Outlook: The Lions have 25-30 wrestlers out this year. Coach Santos Gallegos said it's the most the Lynden program has had. Ten of those are returners, and Luisa Garcia (190) is the lone state returner. Garcia placed sixth at the last year's Mat Classic. Gallegos will look for Garcia, Natalie Martinez (100-106), Gaby Herrera (124-130), Nelly Medina (100-106) and Laura Medina (100-106) to help bring along new Lions with limited experience. "It's looking pretty good so far," Gallegos said in a phone interview. "These past couple days of practice, the veterans have been pushing the other girls, showing them the way to put in hard work." After winning its first dual meet in program history last season, Lynden seems to have a group capable of building on last year's success. Gallegos said he has wrestlers with state potential, but he didn't want to "jinx" them by naming them. Also working in Lynden's favor is the additional amount of mat time it'll receive this year. Gallegos said the number of girls will better prepare his wrestlers.
2012 SCHEDULE
Nov. 29 at Nooksack Valley* 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 5 at Bellingham* 7:45 p.m.
Dec. 8 at Lady Hornets Classic 10 a.m.
Dec. 10 Mount Vernon 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 19 at BEHS Double Dual 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 22 at Lady Lion Tournament of Champions 10 a.m.
Jan. 2 Mount Baker* 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 5 at Woolley Women's Wrestling Tournament 10 a.m.
Jan. 12 at B-E Women Invite 10 a.m.
Jan. 16 at Sedro-Woolley* 6 p.m.
Jan. 19 Lynden Tournament 9 a.m.
Jan. 19 at Foss Tournament 9:30 a.m.
Jan. 26 at Lady Wolfpack Invite 9 a.m.
*NWC match
Reach ANDREW LANG at andrew.lang@bellinghamherald.com or call ext. 862.
