Sailors continue upward

Barry Faulkner

For a grasp on what Coach Dominic Bulone has meant to the Newport

Harbor High wrestling program, one need only follow the career of

senior standout Kid Lim.

Lim, projected to lead the team from the 119-pound class this

season, was fourth at Sea View League finals as a freshman, third as

a sophomore and second last year as a junior.

“And he was one match away from finishing in the top six at CIF

[Southern Section] finals,” said Bulone, in his fifth season at the

helm.

Bulone expects Lim to continue his upward postseason trend and

there are others expected to display their development, while helping

replace eight seniors lost to graduation.

“We won some dual meets last year for the first time since I’ve

been here and I think our dual-meet team is going to be stronger this

year,” Bulone said.

The Tars proved as much by going 2-0-1 in a four-way meet at

Orange High Dec. 10.

In addition to Lim, junior heavyweight Fabian Vasquez (three pins)

and sophomore Eddie Charcas (125 pounds) swept their matches at

Orange, while sophomores Victor George (103) and Mike Bates (130)

earned two pins that night.

Lim is determined to break the school single-season takedown

record held by his older brother Bruce.

Bulone said he will also count upon senior leadership from Kyle

Codey (140), while senior Paul Landers (145) is an inspirational

figure in the lineup.

Vasquez, blessed with what Bulone termed a natural wrestling

awareness, helps anchor the upper weights, though Bulone said the

strength of the team is its lighter wrestlers.

Junior Jeff Landa (189) also has some experience, while sophomores

David Orellana (215), Michael Bixler (160) and Craig Nordstrom (135)

are joined by freshman Josh Hughes (112), Jessee Marshall (152) and

bring promise to the varsity lineup.

Bulone expects Laguna Hills to be the class of the Sea View

League, with Irvine and Woodbridge likely contending for second.

“Us, Foothill and Aliso Niguel should battle for the rest of it,”

Bulone said.