Wrestling

2023-2024 Wrestling roster

LastName	FirstName	Grade
Artim	Hunter	9
Belle	Zayne	11
Bristow	Michael	11
Brown	Emerson	9
Brown	Cameron	11
Brown	Ryan	11
Chandler	Wyatt	11
Colvin	Ethan	9
DeLaCruz	Adam	10
Fan	Noah	10
Garcia	Gage	10
Garner	Luke	9
Hadis	Adrian	11
Johnson	Dean	10
Kang	Zekai (Kevin)	12
Keegan	Trent	10
Linehan	Shane	11
Morosoff	Peter	9
Murdock	Bryan	10
Nascimento	Bernardo	12
Oliva	James	9
Romero	Ryan	9
Sotomayor	Diego	11
Truong	Thinh (Bee)	10

head wreslting coach - zach merrill

Coach Merrill, a former international wrestler for the Puerto Rican national team, comes to the Eagles with a wealth of coaching experience at the high school and collegiate level.

Coach Merrill was a two-time CIF Champion for Palm Desert High School, two-time NCWA National Champion for Cal Baptist University, and an Academic All-Big 12 First Team Selection for the University of Oklahoma. He totaled 105 career wins during his collegiate career before starting an international career for Team USA where he qualified for Olympic Team Trials at 97kg Greco-Roman. After Team USA, he competed for Team Puerto Rico and was a silver medalist at the Central American and Caribbean Games at 97kg freestyle, and bronze medalist at the Pan-American Olympic Qualifying Tournament at 125kg freestyle. 

“We are fortunate to have Coach Merrill lead our wrestling program,” said Santa Margarita Catholic High School Vice President of Athletics Jim Hartigan. “Coach Merrill is a passionate coach who understands the mission of our school, the strategies of wrestling, and how to connect with today’s student-athletes. I am looking forward to the future of Eagle wrestling under the guidance of Coach Merrill.”

Merrill’s coaching philosophy seeks to create a positive environment where confidence and the value of hard work are instilled into student-athletes through the sport of wrestling. 

"I am eager to get started with the student-athletes," said Merrill. "The opportunity to lead the wrestling program here with the Eagles is exciting. There is an amazing support staff in place and some of the best facilities in the country. I'm looking forward to the future." 

All-Time Team 

Angelus League | Loyola, Bishop Amat, Mater Dei, Servite, St. John Bosco

171 - Mike Farris '91

- First place Angelus League

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-12-sp-275-story.html

- 3rd place CIF-SS

- 5th place Masters

- State Quarterfinalist. Finished #12

http://thecaliforniawrestler.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/1991CIFChampionship.pdf

- 2nd team All-OC (LA Times)

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-13-sp-367-story.html

- California Catholic Wrestler of the Year – 171

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189 - Matt Deller '91

- First place Angelus League (2x)

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-12-sp-275-story.html

- 5th place CIF-SS (2x)

- First wrestling scholarship in SM history to Oregon State

- Scholarship to Univ. of New Mexico

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HWT - Paul Ambrose '91

- First place Angelus League

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-12-sp-275-story.html

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152 - Matt Von der Ahe ‘93

- Found some archived articles on OC Register that I will pay for to get the info.

- Wrestled for Stanford

https://isiphotos.photoshelter.com/image/I0000BbkPbtjGySw