‘92-’93 PREP PREVIEW: WRESTLING : TEAMS TO WATCH : CANYON

Coaches: Steve Marshall and Harris Oishi (first year).

1991: Canyon won the tough Century League but lost in the semifinals of the Southern Section 4-A dual meet tournament. Five wrestlers, led by Masters Meet champion Matt Padgett at 160, qualified for the State meet.

Key returners: Ken Allen, Sr., 112; David Gayer, Sr., 140; Cesar Trejo, Jr., 119.

Key newcomers: Kirk Gominsky, Sr., 145; Kevin Kreucher, Sr., 152; Jarred Merril, Sr., 165; Tom Stapleton, Sr., heavyweight.

Outlook: When Coach Gary Bowden abruptly resigned to take a job in Springfield, Ore., before school started, the county’s most celebrated wrestling program was left in the lurch. “He said, ‘Guys, I’m leaving,’ ” Marshall said. “Then he was gone a month later. It was a shock.” With Marshall, an assistant for five years and a 1987 Canyon grad, and Oishi, an assistant for 12 seasons, the program appears as strong as ever. The usual horde of 75-plus wrestlers turned out for the first day of practice. Gayer, who was third at the Masters Meet last year, is the best of them.