I wrestled for Northview in the early 1970's before coach Ochoa's arrival. our coach then was coach milhon
(yogi the bear), that is were the Northview spirit was born and it's nice to see the tradition has gone on as great as it is now congradulations to a great program and all those hard working wrestlers.

nv2006
You said it perfectly, that is exactly how my son started wrestling. He was on the freshman football team and Coach Ochoa asked him if he was going to wrestle after football season. My son had never wrestled before but he took a chance and did it, and come to find out he is really good at it. I expect my sons to play football all four years because football is in their blood and my whole family are football fans, but I guess you never really know.

Since some of you are asking about recruiting at Northview, let me tell you how my son got recruited. He started as freshman football player and never intending to wrestle, was put into wrestling after that fb season. He played fb his soph. year then decided not play fb his jr. yr. dedicating himself to wrestling year round. By the end of his senior year he was a state placer and recieved offers from quite a few colleges. The program developed him into a state placer, the dedicated coaches, his unselfish work-out partners, the camps he was able to attend, his dedication and determination that was instilled by that program, you get the idea? As a soph. it was suggested by some that he could be a varsity wrestler at other school's and shouldn't have to be a jv or "b" wrestler. But what they didn't know was that he learned wrestling as a freshman, no way would he be as good as he turned out to be anywhere else. Carmen de la Cruz, attend a Northhview dual and sit close to the wrestlers and you will find how tight the Northview family really is. Yes they win indivdidual titles, but watch them when one of them loses a match and tell me what you see, I guarantee you will see a family supporting that wrestler. You want your son/daughter to mature and have positive role models? That coaching staff will provide that, wether your kid is a great wrestler or not. To support your accusation Mike, my son was recruited by Dave Ochoa. No longer played football, which I expected him to do for 4 years. By the way we live within the school boundaries and my son had no idea what he was doing on the mat his first year, some with wrestling experience might even say his first 2 1/2 years. If you have any questions feel free to ask me. And to the Northview wrestling coaches and family we can't thank you enough.

Max,

I've been trying to explain this rule for years and people still want to believe that it's still the same as the "old days" when private schools were the only ones that could do that and, therefore, had a huge advantage.

Now that it is readily open to anyone, great public high school programs like Ochoa's can thrive by legally attracting quality athletes.

BTW, is this the same Dave Ochoa that attended Amat for a couple years in the '70s and graduated from Royal Oak.

Mike,
You still don't get the rule, do you. You don't have to "obtain and address" to enroll as a freshman in any school. I will explain it to you one more time. If you live within School A's district, but wish to attend School B, which is 50 miles away, you simple enroll at School B, and to be able to compete in athletics you simply file a form to CIF. Now under the old open enrollment rule, you were able to transfer freely, but now you must either move into School C's district to play/compete immediatley, file a harship case with CIF and have it approved, or sit out a year. Of course, you can still transfer to School C without moving and not play athletics at or, or be limited to the junior varsity.
I hope that explains.

Max,
this is how it's done the wrestler obtains an address within the C.V.U.S.D. without actually moving into the district.

Mike you stated that I didn't disbute the recruiting comment, well I didn't because I have no knowledge of it. I can't confirm or deny, I was just commenting on stuff that I know to be true. With that being said...I would still stand by Ochoa and his staff they are excellent role models for my sons and their work ethic is outstanding.

BEST OF LUCK AT 5 COUNTIES VIKINGS

Max Mercy... excellent comment!!! It is true there is the open enrollment so the kids do have a choice. And let me tell you, Ochoa does not need to be out there to recruit... Kids and parents come to him asking for him to take them into his program. Until a person even has a moment with this amazing program, to see how much Ochoa and his staff sacrafice and do for their wrestlers.. you just need to keep your jealous comments to yourself! And i dont know where the heck this other nonsense came from about kids not being able to wrestle. Their is so many kids in this program and no one is ever left out. He finds tournaments and matches for everyone. And one more thing: NORTHVIEW WRESTLING PROGRAM IS A FAMILY. TO SEE THE RELATIONSHIP THIS KIDS HAVE WITH THEIR COACHES AND WITH EACH OTHER.. WHILE ITS TRULY AWESOME.
YOU GO VIKINGS.. KEEP CONTINUING WITH YOUR AWESOME SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!

Dela Cruz, Mike:
Unless you have proof that Mr. Ochoa has been in the living room of these "recruits" as you say, then just keep your thoughts to yourselves. This is a great story, and you guys react like all the losers with talk not backed up by fact.
Oh, by the way, CIF still features open-enrollment, which features limits in open transferring. But, providing you file the proper paperwork, an individual is allowed to enroll in any school in the Southern Section as a freshman. But once enrolled, you must move within the boundries of another school to transfer to said school.
And the reason kids cling to Northview is the coaching advantage they get. Remember, wrestling is a work sport, where technique outweighs natural ability. That's why you would want to go to a school that has produced winners in the past.

I find it funny that Mike points out Northview's Coach Ochoa's short comings, and no one has disputed it. HE RECUITS!
BOY IS THAT TEAM SPIRIT! MUST BE TRUE. How many of the wrestlers ACTUALLY LIVE in the school district? Gee it is only high school sports! Does your wrestler really need to change schools to be a champion. If you don't believe in his ability, then what kind of message are you giving him. Wrestling is individual, if you are a Winner, you don't need to give up your life in a different school district. Stay with your friends, you can be a winner where ever you are.

Northview Mom.
notice you didn't dispute the fact, that some of the wrestlers live outside of the school district which is against C.I.F. eligibility rules.

Amazing!
This is my second year with the Northview Program and I go to a tournament practically every single Saturday. Plus I go on some Thursdays and Fridays and I have never seen any wrestler benched unless they were ineligible. I have 2 sons on the Northview team and he sends them all over the place seems like he tries hard to find tournaments and dual meets so that all willing and eligible wrestlers are allowed to do just that. Mike your statement just does not sound right to me being as I've seen the lineup of tournaments that Ochoa has lined up this season and last and there is plenty enough space for every willing wrestler to get ample enough matches.

It's not hate, just a fact!
check the C.I.F. rules and bylaws. I don't have a problem with parents wanting their kid to go to the best program just do it legally. It is a shame that a student who lives in the district, and who's parents pay property taxes that help fund the school can't represent his school because the coach has gone out of the district to pad his team for his own gain.

It's funny how when you get a good program going all of a sudden you are called a cheater. Northview's wrestling program is among the best in the state and deserves all the praise and recognition that comes along with it. Coach Ochoa put this team on the map with all his hard work and dedication. I have personally seen him in action and he gives 300% to this team and expects 300% back from every one of his wrestlers. Keep doing what you do coach, we all appreciate what you are doing for our kids. Thanks Again Coach

KEEP IT UP VIKINGS...BEST OF LUCK AT 5 COUNTIES

They earn their stats? It's not a te3am sport. I get that but what basketball players and football players don't earn their stats? I love it when non-athletes get excited about their kid playing a sport and then come on and comment with an uneducated opinion and superiority complex.

Northwiew's program is great so why is it so hard to think some kids out of the distric would want to go there? As long as the coach is not out there 'stealing' kids, why would it bother someone if the kid wants to go there?

I agree... Mike himself or someone else from his family probably could not handle all the discipline and hard work this kids need to be part of each and every day.
WHAT TO GO VIKINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike,

Stop hating just because you or your kid isn't/wasn't good enough to wrestle for Northview.

Northview has the best Wrestling program in southern California and maybe even the entire state.

Coach Ochoa has been cheating and breaking C.I.F. rules for years it is not a secret that he recruits wrestlers from outside of the school district that he has had kid's who have lived as far away as Fontana, Ontario, Upland.
While C.I.F. rules allow private school to recruit because parents pay a monthly tuition, public school can not stack there team with ringers from out side of the districts boundaries

Having played for and worked with Coach Ochoa, I can truly say, he's one of the best in the business. This is one of the best dynasties in the entire state, which is finally getting some of the praise they deserve. They put in more work over there then you could possibly imagine. Great work fellas, keep it up and good luck at the counties!

I wrestled against the Northview teams before Ochoa arrived on the campus and they were pretty. But, under his leadership and guidance, the program has improved tremendously.

You have to give the coaches and the kids at Northview a great deal of credit. They have one of the best high school dynasties going in the SGV. I wish them a lot of luck at 5 Counties and beyond. I have a lot of respect for all that they have accomplished.

Ken,

What time and where is the Dual going to be?

I had no previous experiance with wrestling but now that my son does it, I must admit, it has everything you could want out of sports... Great article Fred, and hey good look to Bonita this week against Amat

I loved reading this article. My son wrestles for Northview and he has impressed me more then you know. This is only his second year and I look forward to many more.
When I read the part about them all being like brothers it is true you see it at all the tournaments and all the meets. Best of luck Northview at 5 counties.

its about time you wrote something about wrestling. northveiw is the bomb. those kids come ready to go .it starts down on the ground level.the youth program is great,,my son wrestles at bonita 152 last year on j.v 35wins 7 loses..this year j.v -varsity 26and 6 it the tuffes sport of all high school sports your paper would rather cover girls softball,now theirs a real sports..the battle between the parents..theirs no politics in wrestling the #1guy earns that job , you cant chance it.. so bonita open up agaist bishop amat thursday first league match ill bet no body from the paper will be their. how about a picture of the starting wrestling teams with their stats under them..fred they earn their stats its not a team sport..give them their ups thanks hope too see someone .out

Great article Steve!

Good luck to all at "the beast in the west" 5 counties.