Look who moved into the Top 10 after beating Downey last week... Gahr!!!
P-T TOP 10
Wrestling
1. St. John Bosco
2. Millikan
3. Los Alamitos
4. Warren
5. Paramount
6. Poly
7. Norwalk
8. Lakewood
9. Wilson
10. Gahr
Wrestling: January 2012 Archives
P-T TOP 10
Wrestling
1. St. John Bosco
2. Los Alamitos
3. Millikan
4. Paramount
5. Lakewood
6. Wilson
7. Poly
8. Downey
9. Warren
10. Norwalk
AJ McKee might be just 113 pounds, but the Poly High junior wrestler has grown substantially over the past year.
McKee added some length to his already lean and muscular frame, but it's arguably his maturity as a person that has helped him most on and off the mat.
McKee won the Tournament of Champions as the No. 5 seed over the weekend and did so by defeating two state champions and the No's 1 and 2 seeds in the process.
Last season, McKee didn't always represent Poly as well as coach Bart Roper would like, but it was all part of the growing process.
"AJ was a young, immature kid last year and we knew he was going to be a great wrestler, but I am most proud that he's becoming a good person," Roper said. "A lot of kids his age don't take instruction or advice well until they get older, but AJ has worked very hard at being someone who represents our program and school in a way that makes us all proud."
Instead of having an ego about the low seed at TOC, McKee let his work on the mat do all his talking.
"I just wanted to prove to people I am capable of wrestling with anyone in my weight class," he said. "I'm really glad people are beginning to see the new me that has grown up quite a bit and that all my hard work is really paying off right now."
-- Brian Reed-Baiotto
About the Bloggers
Prep Sports Editor Dave Werstine has worked in and around the greater Long Beach area covering high school sports since the mid-1980s. Dave sums up his own athletic career as a "Jack of all trades and a master of none." Whether the ball is kicked, hit or thrown, Dave enjoys being part of it. If you have game, e-mail opinions, story ideas or news tips to dave.werstine@dailybreeze.com.
David Felton is a lifelong sports fan who began covering prep athletics in 1990. He's lived and worked in Long Beach since 2000 and has developed a deep respect and appreciation for the athletic history of this community. Email him at dave.felton@dailybreeze.com.
Robert Morales began covering prep sports in the greater Long Beach area in 2007. When a local football coach asked him how he felt about reporting on preps after many years of covering boxing, auto racing and various other sports, he replied, "Hey, if I'm going to cover prep sports anywhere, I'm glad it's this area because of the level of athletics, the intensity displayed by the athletes and coaches and the support of the community." Email him at robert.morales@dailybreeze.com.
