Blaine’s Camba a wrestling junkie

A two-week, season-ending stretch last winter showed Blaine coach Craig Foster the heart, fight and wrestling ability Derreck Camba owns.

The junior 132-pounder broke his right collarbone during December’s Vashon Island Tournament. Camba’s season appeared over. Even if he could come back, being effective during the postseason after weeks off the mat was highly unlikely.

But Camba, a self-described wrestling junkie, surprised himself and Foster by fighting through pain to earn a Mat Classic berth at the district tournament and an eventual seventh-place state finish.

“He was pretty amazing that he kind of came out of nowhere and placed at state,” Foster said. “He didn’t have a season really. That showed me an awful lot, and he really wanted to be in there and competing. That gave me a lot of respect for him.”

Camba’s success has translated to this winter. He’s ranked by Washington Wrestling Report as Class 2A’s No.2-ranked 132-pounder, and last week earned the Most Falls Award at the Mariner Holiday Tournament, earning four first-round pins en route to clinching a tourney title.

Camba may be earning state-wide recognition, but the journey to where’s at as a wrestler has taken a different path than some of the other talents inside the Borderites’ wrestling room.

Camba isn’t a lifelong wrestler. He started three years ago as an eighth grader and instantly immersed himself in the sport.

He doesn’t have the wealth of moves state-medalist teammates and lifelong wrestlers Anthony Frey, Caleb Frey and Riley Fritsch have, but Camba has identified what he does the best and has worked feverishly to refine those skills.

“The only person holding you back is yourself,” Camba said. “You have the potential to be as great as you want to be as long as you have the passion to go for it, and that is what I find about this sport that I love.”

That feeling of self-reliance connects Camba with wrestling in a way most wrestlers wouldn’t understand.

Camba since 9 years old has shouldered the emotional pain of early independence following the death of his father, Knute Camba. Tragedy struck following a day of shooting between Derreck and Knute. Knute was cleaning his gun afterward when a round went off.

“I was kind of lost when it happened, and it was kind of the thing I reached out for and grabbed,” said Derreck of wrestling. “It kept my mind off it, and I expressed myself better. I could have went off the deep end and not known where to go. ... When you are (wrestling) for your dad, it makes you feel invincible.”

One of Derreck’s career highlights came last February during a decisive match at the Mat Classic that would either send him home or advance him to the next day’s medal rounds.

Derreck beat Squalicum’s Spencer Wallace in a 6-3 decision, and when the third-period whistle blew, he paid special homage to Knute with a touching gesture.

“At the Tacoma Dome, when I won my match to place I looked up, stood there and I just pointed up,” Derreck said. “I just knew at that moment he was there watching.”

As sensational as last season ended for Derreck, he has the opportunity to a part of something even bigger this year.

With returners Anthony, Caleb, Fritsch and Colton Economy, Blaine figures to have a serious shot at another state championship after its dramatic 2013 win.

Derreck’s ability to progress throughout the season and prove last season was no fluke could be the difference.

“I do like being ranked, but everyone around sees you’re ranked second and thinks he should he wrestling like a state finalist,” Derreck said. “That’s more pressure on me. We are going for a state championship this year, so the hometown is expecting everything.”

This story was originally published December 12, 2015 at 4:52 PM with the headline "Blaine’s Camba a wrestling junkie."