Submitted photo – Ferndale head coach Levi Buck has just six wrestlers on this year’s team but all of them are working hard and bring good energy to practice every day.
By Ray Hamill — Ferndale wrestling head coach Levi Buck admits he was unsure about coming back this season to lead a program that has struggled with numbers in recent years.
After all, last winter a small team lasted just a few weeks before they had to pull the plug on the season.
But Buck is glad he did come back this year and he was convinced he had done the right thing just moments after meeting his team.
“Out of all of the years I’ve been coaching, this is one of the most enjoyable years,” he said. “They all have a good attitude, they do want to get better, they all want to be here, and they all work hard. There’s always good energy in the room.”
Buck has a small team of six, including five boys and one girl.
But only two of them have any real experience, including freshman Preston Killingsworth, who Buck has coached for the past few years in youth wrestling, as well as junior Abby Bibby, who transferred from Fortuna this year and could challenge for a league title next month.
Bibby has been battling some injuries this season, but her coach is hoping to have her back to full health in time for the H-DNL championships, which will take place at Arcata on Feb. 15.
“That’s the plan,” Buck said of the junior, who placed first at the recent Windsor tournament and third at the Eureka tournament, despite being limited. “She’s doing everything in her power to get back on the mats. I’d like to think that she be up there (at the league meet).”
Killingsworth, meanwhile, should definitely compete for a league championship during his time at Ferndale.
The freshman standout has plenty of experience on the mats at the youth level and is adapting quickly to the high school competition.
“He’s really starting to come along as far as expanding his knowledge, his technique and his approach,” Buck said of the freshman, who placed first at four different tournaments this winter, as well as finishing fourth in the recent Eureka varsity tourney. “He definitely has a bright future. He’s competing pretty well.”
All five of the Ferndale boys — a group that also includes sophomores Brandon Bailey and Ruben Peredia, as well as freshmen Cash Mobley and Kyle Cox — are underclassmen, but that hasn’t dampened their enthusiasm.
Bailey, according to Buck, is “starting to figure it out” and has “high energy and a good motor,” while Mobley is “another little scrapper” and “if he sticks with it, he’s going to be good.”
“He listens, he’s a fighter and he doesn’t give up,” Buck added of Mobley.
Peredia and Cox also have impressed their coach with their attitude and dedication.
“They continue to learn and they continue to grow,” Buck said.
Cox has been working out in practice with Killingsworth and has benefitted from working with the experienced freshman.
The Cats will face off against Fortuna in a league dual match next week, before heading south to the Ukiah tournament the following weekend, as they continue to build towards this year’s league championships, which will take place at Arcata High on Feb. 15.
