MERIDIAN
TROJANS
Coach: Fred Pulphus
Last year: Finished second in the Class 1A NWC standings and 10th overall with a 0-1 conference record. ... Placed fifth at the 1A Regional Tournament and advanced three wrestlers to state. ... Finished 32nd at the state tournament with 12 points and had James Reedy-Capp place sixth at 195.
Wrestlers to watch: Jack Hallmark (Sr., 132); Tomas Alvarado (Sr., 125); Neal Tilbury (Sr., 220)
Outlook: After seasons of traveling to Mount Baker and Lynden High School for wrestling practice, Meridian now has a wrestling program to call its own. New coach Fred Pulphus said nobody is happier than senior Jack Hallmark. "Jack Hallmark has been the Pied Piper, going around the school recruiting people," Pulphus said in a phone interview. The Trojans have 14 wrestlers out and are led by seniors Hallmark (132), Neal Tilbury (220) and Tomas Alvarado (125). Although the Trojans don't return any of their three state entries from last year, Pulphus is convinced he'll see at least a handful of Trojans at the Mat Classic in 2012-13. Alvarado went to state his sophomore year at Nooksack Valley, but decided not to compete last year at Meridian. The Trojans don't have enough girls' wrestlers to field a full team, but Pulphus said upperclassmen Savannah Grogg (145) and Paula Whitney (140) have the talent and skill to get to the Tacoma Dome. "They have really been focused on being supportive of each other," said Pulphus of his team. "I haven't seen the amount of support they give each other in 25 years of coaching."
2012-13 SCHEDULE
Dec. 1 at George Yonlick Tournament 10 a.m.
Dec. 5 at Concrete* 6 p.m.
Dec. 7 at Battle at the Border 1 p.m.
Dec. 8 at Battle at the Border 10 a.m.
Dec. 12 at Sehome* 7 p.m.
Dec. 15 at Paul Reiman Classic 10 a.m.
Jan. 2 at Bellingham* 7 p.m.
Jan. 2 Ferndale 7 p.m.
Jan. 5 at Cardinal Classic Tournament TBD
Jan. 9 at Lynden* 7 p.m.
Jan. 12 at NWC Tournament 10 a.m.
Jan. 16 Burlington-Edison* 7 p.m.
*NWC match
Reach ANDREW LANG at andrew.lang@bellinghamherald.com or call ext. 862.
