Kimball High School’s wrestling season is gearing up under the leadership of Coach Alex Diaz, a chemistry teacher committed to building athletes who excel both academically and athletically. “I want to build a scholar-athlete, to be good in the classroom first.” Diaz emphasizes wrestling’s difficulty but believes the sport teaches discipline and resilience. “They’ll be stronger by the end of it if they’re able to last through it.” With about 35 wrestlers currently on the roster, Diaz continues working toward his long-term goal of developing a full varsity squad for the program.
The team began preparing back in October with conditioning sessions that included field days, bleachers, town runs, and mat-room workouts. In November, the focus shifted to cardio, technique, and learning new positions. Diaz is especially excited about several returning wrestlers who attended summer camps, as well as a promising group of athletic newcomers. “We always have newcomers every year. I would like to see more girls come out, though.”
This season’s schedule includes a pre-Thanksgiving scrimmage, Saturday tournaments throughout December and January, and three home meets in Kimball’s big gym. One major highlight will be hosting Mountain House for Senior Night. Diaz says he has spent the past few years trying to grow the program and is “more serious now about the program” as he continues building a strong and well-rounded wrestling team for Kimball
