Flashback to 2004.

Head wrestling coach John Hittle made a promise to the local newspaper that in three years Stagg would be the league champions.

January 2007, sophomore David Sok walked to the mat with the weight of taking the varsity squad to victory against the Tokay Tigers and naming them the Tri-City Athletic League Champions of dual matches.

Compared to Sok’s short, muscular figure, his opponent at the 103-weight class looked like a child.

Within 16 seconds Sok pinned his opponent making the team score 37-30. Stagg wrestlers ran to the mat cheering with joy.



They were champions.

Hittle knew that their opponent would not go down without a fight. He also knew that his wrestlers would do everything in their power to win.

“We were in the mindset of high caliber wrestling,” said senior Roberto Preciado, a two year varsity wrestler.

The last time Stagg wrestling won a league championship was in 1991, when assistant coach Andreas Uyeda was a senior.

The Delta Kings proved that a hard work ethic, a motivating coach and a close bond with one another could lead them to victory.

“We were hungry for it,” said Preciado. “We made a goal and accomplished it.”

Becoming TCAL champions for dual matches wasn’t where the reign of the Delta Kings stopped. They went on to conquer first place in overall team matches at the TCAL tournament held Feb. 10 at Edison.

All 14 members of the varsity squad made it to the next round of qualifiers, Division Sections, which were held at Beyer High School on Feb. 17. Along with Sok, Daniel Ramirez and Jose Gloria are the only three wrestlers to make it to the next round of qualifiers – Masters which will be held today and tomorrow.

In a competitive sport such as wrestling, dealing with the stress of a match or cutting weight can be hard on an individual. Hittle, who wrestled in high school and college, knows the pressure the sport can have. Throughout his time as head coach he has made team bonding a priority.

“You got to make a family out of these guys,” he said.

Over the winter break the team came together for a holiday feast in the cafeteria. Bus rides to away dual matches were often filled with laughter and the chatter of wrestlers amongst themselves.

“A core of us from sophomore year trained off season,” Preciado said.

Along with Preciado and Sok many wrestlers were involved in free-style wrestling during the off-season, spending time with Hittle to learn new techniques.

When the Delta Kings became champions, Joe Martin, district administrator in charge of athletics and intramurals, was present along with many teachers, alumni, and coaches.

Martin says he wants “to promote wrestling as a feature sport for boys and girls of all sizes.”

He is even helping Hittle train seventh and eighth graders who are interested in the sport.

When told that many of the wrestlers see him as a father figure, Hittle simply smiled and said, “I am honored. I hold them to a standard and I don’t expect anything less.”

Masters will be held at the Stockton Arena today and tomorrow. State will be on March 2 and 3 in Bakersfield. For results of matches and standings visit staggline.com.