State contender taking shape on Royal High School mats this season

The “strong” team Coach Miller is putting together will include Regan Callahan (left) and Ruben Hernandez.

Sophomore Eduardo Rodriguez, third at state last season, top, practices moves and holds with senior second-place state winner Kiki Chabolla.

by Sun Tribune Editor & Ted Escobar
| December 7, 2015 5:00 AM

Sophomore Eduardo Rodriguez, third at state last season, top, practices moves and holds with senior second-place state winner Kiki Chabolla.

ROYAL CITY — The Royal High wrestling team may not win the state championship this year, but Coach Randy Miller’s boys should place well, and who knows?

“The team is really starting to shape up,” Miller said.

Miller has 34 young men in the gym, with another eight coming out after the football ends for Royal this Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.

The Knights will be a mixture of state place winners, other veterans and talented youngsters. One those talented youngsters last year was Eduardo Rodriguez, who placed third at state last year as a freshman.

The five returning placers are Darrin Miller, Kiki Chabolla, Steven Toro, Abraham Medina, and Rodriquez. There are also two returning non-placing state veterans, Jose Ponce and Angel Rojas.

“I am very impressed in the freshman class,” Miller said. “Every one of them is working hard and is eager to fit in on the high school team.”

The schedule this year is one of the toughest Miller has set. If the Knights can stay the course and improve each week, he said, they should be a contender for a strong finish at the 1A State Tournament. Royal’s first dual meet of the season will be at Deer Park.