Leach returns to lead team at 112 pounds
By Tony Dondero
Enterprise reporter
SHORELINE
Led by new coach Derek Norton and sophomore 112-pounder Brandon Leach, the Shorewood wrestling team is all about youth this year.
Last year Shorewood posted the best season in school history as senior Tim Hester captured the 189-pound 4A title and senior Matt Jensen took fifth at 152 pounds.
Now that those veterans have graduated, it’s time for the up-and-coming wrestlers to take over the spotlight and for Norton to take over the reins of the program from Arnie Moreno, who stepped down after 10 years after last season.
Leach, who finished seventh at 112 pounds at the District 1 meet last year, is undefeated so far and primed to place at state this year. In the title match of the Mariner Tournament Dec. 6, he overtook Lake Stevens’ Ryan Rodrigo by scoring a reversal and near fall in the final 20 seconds to win by a point. Rodrigo placed seventh at state at 103 pounds last year.
“He’s made tremendous improvement,” Norton said of Leach, who also wrestles with the Wrestling Rhinos club and competed in tournaments in the offseason.
“My goal is to get fifth or higher at state this year,” said Leach, who routinely competes against heavier wrestlers in practice.
The Thunderbirds also return 103-pounder Daniel Yun, who finished seventh at districts last year and took third at the Mariner Tournament. He’s 6-1 so far this season.
Another key sophomore on a team dominated by sophomores is Kyle Floresca who bumped up to 119 pounds from 112. Floresca recently became eligible and wrestled against Marysville-Pilchuck on Dec. 11 and lost but Norton said he’s still getting into match shape.
Sophomore Giovanni English, who got varsity experience last year, recently got eligible and fills the 145-pound slot while the team’s lone senior Carl Berenson, a King’s student, is a key contributor at 135 pounds. The T-birds’ co-captains are seniors Ned Kelly, Daniel Lydin and Berenson.
JungYeon Jo, who also goes to King’s, is a new face at 160 pounds. Jo has a background in judo and submission wrestling, a mixed martial art, and hopes to make a smooth transition to folkstyle wrestling, according to Norton.
In the Western Conference South Division, perennial power Mariner is expected to be the favorite with Edmonds-Woodway and Kamiak at the top as well.
Shorewood, which beat Cascade and performed respectably against traditionally strong Everett, hopes to finish in the middle of the league in dual meet action.
The Western Conference North Division teams, led by powerhouse Lake Stevens, usually get the majority of state berths but the South is much stronger than unusual, Norton said.
“We have to worry about the Wesco South teams,” Norton said, referring to the path to regionals and state. “It’s going to be tough top to bottom.”
Norton is one of three new coaches in the South this year, and at age 29 he has his first head coaching gig after five years as a Shorewood assistant. He has led the Einstein Middle School program for eight years and was middle school coach of the year for District 1 last year. Norton graduated from Shorewood in 1997
“I just have the youth and intensity that comes with youth,” Norton said.
The intensity of practices have increased and Leach for one, said he likes the pace.
“We’ve been getting a lot better training and technical help,” Leach said. “Our conditioning is much better. It’s going to pay off…”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
