The Santa Margarita Catholic High School wrestling team has shown notable progress in the 2025 season.
-
Trinity League Finals: The team improved on their previous season's performance, qualifying seven wrestlers for the CIF-SS Central Division Championship. This includes standout Trinity League Finalists Wyatt Chandler (138 lbs.) and Shane Linehan (165 lbs.).
-
CIF-SS Central Division Championship: Santa Margarita had a strong showing with seven CIF qualifiers. Five wrestlers advanced to Day 2 of the competition, and three placed in their weight classes: Wyatt Chandler (138 lbs.) and Jason Perez (215 lbs.) both took 7th place, while Shane Linehan (165 lbs.) finished 6th and qualified for the CIF-SS Masters Meet held on February 22, 2025, at Sonora High School. This marks an improvement over the previous year, when they had five CIF qualifiers, with Linehan placing 7th at 157 lbs.
-
CIF Duals: The team made history by earning an at-large bid to the CIF Southern Section Division 6 Dual Meet Championship, their first appearance since 1997. They defeated Big Bear 36-35 in Round 1 but fell to Santa Ana 13-51 in the Quarterfinals. Advancing to the Quarterfinals represents the program’s best finish at CIF Duals to date.
Under the leadership of Head Coach Zach Merrill, now in his second season, and Assistant Coach Nava, the team is experiencing a turnaround. Merrill, a former international wrestler for Team Puerto Rico and the 2024 Trinity League Coach of the Year, has been instrumental in elevating the program.
Overall, the Santa Margarita wrestling team performed well, showing growth in both individual achievements and team milestones.
- wrestling news