Tucked away in the corner of the Sovine Gym is Dos Pueblos High School’s wrestling room, home to the Dos Pueblos Wrestling Team.
Established in 1971 by National Wrestling Hall of Famer Mike Hart, DP Wrestling is one of the
most storied programs on campus. Head Coach Matthew Bernard said that this history is what sets DP Wrestling apart from other programs.
“Hart had numerous state placers, state champs, three CIF championships,” Bernard said. “That built the foundation of DP Wrestling.”
For the past 55 years, DP Wrestling has prided itself not just its history, but its community. DP Wrestling hosts an annual alumni night to reconnect and has its own booster club, the Dos Pueblos Chargers Wrestling Takedown Association.
“They’re very big about getting us money and raising us funds,” Girls Wrestling Captain Ariana Valladares (12) said. “They help us get our setups coordinated, and they’re also very big on getting our information out.”
Beyond just raising funds, the Takedown Association helps connect with alumni and further strengthen the DP Wrestling community.
“The team is very supportive of everybody,” Jennifer Salcedo (9) said. “We may mess around in practice, be mean to each other, but at the end of the day, they’ll come through.”
(Lucas Trexler)
Captain Brandon Velasquez (12) says that his time with DP Wrestling has helped him improve both on the mat and as a person.
“I feel like I’ve improved in the mental game and just become a lot calmer of a wrestler,” Velasquez said. “It’s for sure helped me be more confident in myself.”
While wrestling sets itself apart from other sports through its combat, DPHS Wrestling also has a unique sense of team that “stands out” among wrestling programs.
“The camaraderie among the team is very high,” Bernard said. “It’s a great group of kids to be a part of.”
