As the Mt. SAC Men's Wrestling team prepares for the upcoming year, head coach David Rivera shares his enthusiasm for the challenges and opportunities ahead. Coming off an exciting 2023 season, during which they clinched the 3C2A Men's Wrestling State Championship title, the team is eager to compete again. With their first match set for Saturday, September 21st, as part of the Mt. SAC Dual Tournament, Rivera emphasizes the importance of moving forward and developing a new group of athletes.
The transition from high school to collegiate wrestling can be demanding, and Rivera is dedicated to helping his wrestlers adapt to the competitive environment at Mt. SAC. "A lot of the guys coming from high school have a different view of what wrestling is," he explains. "We need to introduce them to how we do things at Mt. SAC, which is all about being competitive from practice to warm-ups to the final match."
Acknowledging the heightened expectations that come with last season's success, Rivera states, "We have a big target on our backs. We just need to step on the mat and put our best guys out there." He reinforces the importance of focusing on their own performance rather than getting caught up in the competition. "Our goal is to keep improving our program and our individual wrestlers. We can only control how much we get better each day." The team is committed to the principle of self-improvement, striving to be 1% better every day. "It's about competing against ourselves and not worrying about anyone else," he adds.
Rivera has led the Men's Wrestling Team to the state championship for the past three years, securing the title in 2021 for the first time in school history and again in 2023. Additionally, he has coached 15 student-athletes to individual state championship titles. He plans to have his team back at the competition again this year.
As they embark on this journey, the Mt. SAC Men's Wrestling team looks to build on their success and continue their tradition of excellence.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.