Amburgey initiates rebuilding process

Chris Yemma

Joe Amburgey could be a new advertising campaign for the Costa Mesa

High wrestling program.

The slogan could read -- Be all you can be, like Joe Amburgey.

What was once a formidable program in the early 1990s, interest in

the sport at the school has steadily decreased. But with more

wrestlers like Amburgey, interest could enter an upswing.

Last Thursday, Amburgey became the first Costa Mesa wrestler to

become a Golden West League champion.

“I hope it sparked interest,” said Mesa Coach Paul Serio, who is

in his first year with the program and is determined to build upon

it. “Amburgey is the guy to get it going back in the right direction.

He’s a role model around campus and a diplomat for the sport.”

It’s a start for the Mesa program, which Serio said is beginning

to look similar to the Corona del Mar program he coached from the

late 1980s to the mid 1990s -- few people, but talented individuals.

With Amburgey’s league win, in the 171-pound weight class against

a Santa Ana wrestler, the Mesa program has something to build upon.

He can be used as a recruiting tool for other Mesa students, among

other interest-sparking techniques.

“I hope it gains popularity,” Amburgey said. “I tried to get a

bunch of people to join this year. I think it will. We have a new

coach that seems really stable and he’s been telling all his students

and recruiting guys from classes.”

Serio entered the Costa Mesa program at a crucial juncture in its

path. Last season, coach Lee Romo quit midway through the year and it

was questionable as to whether the season would continue. But

Amburgey’s older brother, Doug, a former Costa Mesa wrestler, stepped

in to keep the season alive.

In his first year, after taking a 10-year leave of absence from

coaching, Serio is thinking long term. He said he viewed this season

as a rebuilding one, which could be a promising sign for the

Mustangs.

When he first set foot in the program, Serio said he had no idea

what sort of talent he was going to have. But then he met Amburgey.

“It was nice to have a senior on the team who was an obvious team

leader,” Serio said. “It was nice to have someone to set the bar. It

was a pleasant surprise.”

Despite being a senior, Amburgey could still be a part of the

rebuilding process in the upcoming years.

“I talked to him and told him that I wanted him to come back next

year and help with the younger guys,” Serio said. “I think he would

make a good coach.”

Amburgey said he wants to attend USC in the fall, but he might

have to go to community college first.