PREP WRESTLING: D'ERRICO IS ON THE FAMILY PLAN HE'S LATEST TO EXCEL AT HIGHLAND.Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer PALMDALE - Ryan D'Errico knows he's under pressure to perform. His family is well known in the community, with relatives on both sides boasting about his impressive accomplishments as a wrestler at Highland High. To add to the pressure, the Bulldogs are seeking their 10th consecutive Golden League title, which they've won each year since the program was established in 1992. His cousin, Ashlie D'Errico - now at University of Pacific on a softball softball, variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Invented (1888) in Chicago as an indoor game, it was at various times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground ball, kitten ball, and, because it was also played by women, ladies' scholarship - arguably ar·gu·a·ble adj. 1. Open to argument: an arguable question, still unresolved. 2. That can be argued plausibly; defensible in argument: three arguable points of law. is the most distinguished female athlete in the school's 12-plus-year history. His father, Lee D'Errico, was a star athlete at Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley High in the '70s. Another cousin, Jason Chronister, was the Bulldogs' most inspirational wrestler four consecutive seasons, and his aunt Carol Stanford is an award-winning English teacher at Highland. Ryan, who started at Highland as a sophomore last season after transferring from Henderson, Nev., knew he wasn't just anybody when he came to the school. Nevertheless, he said his family puts no pressure on him. The only pressure he feels is that which he puts on himself. ``I do put a lot of pressure on myself, but I think that helps me in the long run because it makes me work harder,'' he said. The extra work seems to be paying off. A junior, D'Errico, who competes in the 125-pound weight class, was 11-8 entering Highland's match against Palmdale on Wednesday in his first season at the varsity level. The Bulldogs were 1-0 in league (13-2 overall) entering Wednesday's match. D'Errico will have an opportunity to showcase his skills when his school holds the nonleague Bobby Laughridge Tournament (formerly known as the Bulldog bulldog, breed of thick-set nonsporting dog developed in the British Isles many centuries ago. It stands from 13 to 15 in. (33–38.1 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 40 to 50 lb (18.1–22.7 kg). Classic), a two-day event that begins Friday. D'Errico knew little about the sport before trying out for the team a year and a half ago at the prodding of his uncle, Al Chronister, a guidance counselor guidance counselor Child psychology A school worker trained to screen, evaluate and advise students on career and academic matters at Highland. He's developed his skills quickly. ``He's had to pick up a lot of stuff at a really fast pace,'' said teammate Dustin Alleman, a senior who competes in the 160-pound division. ``He's learned a lot and he's doing really well. He's a hard worker and he has a lot of heart.'' D'Errico cites an intense conditioning program as the key to his rapid development. He now bench presses nearly 200 pounds, more than 50 pounds more than when he started wrestling. His sport-specific weight-training program also features upper-back work - training muscles he needs to pull an opponent's leg or arm into his body - and pull-ups with towels designed to strengthen his grip. ``He has a toughness to him,'' Highland coach Michael Young said. ``He's stepped in and given us a solid 125-pounder after wrestling one year of JV. He's really progressed faster than most kids. He's put in a lot of extra time in the offseason honing Honing could refer to
``Every week he gets better and we're looking to him to be one of the top wrestlers See
D'Errico always has been physically active, playing football and baseball, snowboarding snowboarding: see under skiing. snowboarding Sport of sliding downhill over snow on a snowboard, a wide ski ridden in a surfing position. Derived from surfing and influenced also by skateboarding as well as skiing, snowboarding began to burgeon and riding dirt bikes, all of which he said has helped him build the endurance he needs as a wrestler. He was on the football team this season but is considering passing on his senior year to concentrate on wrestling. He's apparently found a new calling. He enjoys the camaraderie ca·ma·ra·der·ie n. Goodwill and lighthearted rapport between or among friends; comradeship. [French, from camarade, comrade, from Old French, roommate; see comrade. of the sport, which he said is greater than in most others. Engaging in physical contact with those who aren't twice his size is another advantage. ``I'm not that big and strong and that's why I really fell in love with wrestling,'' he said. ``Size doesn't matter because you're wrestling against somebody your own size, so it's more about pure knowledge of the sport, and that's what I like "That's What I Like" was a popular single by Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers. Father and son team Andy and John Pickles repeated the formula which had took their record Swing The Mood to number one a few months previously. .'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) Highland's Ryan D'Errico is beginning to get the hang of to learn the method or arrangement of; hence, to become accustomed to. See also: Hang wrestling, which he began less than two years ago. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer |
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