Senior Dave Peters defeated Novato wrestler Korey Yamagata to take home the Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) wrestling title for the 184-pound weight class on Saturday, February 21 at Novato High School. The victory set Peters up to participate in North Coast Section (NCS) competition (held on the weekend of February 27 through March 1 at James Logan High School in Union City), but he suffered knee and ankle injuries during practice several days after his MCAL win and was not able to continue competing.

Although his chances of participating in the NCS competition were all but eradicated in the wake of the knee injury, Peters was proud to take home the MCAL title in his fourth year as a member of the Tam wrestling program. Peters battled other injuries early on in the season, including one to one of his shoulders, casting doubts on his ability to compete for the MCAL crown.

“For me, MCALs was my goal all season,” Peters said. “During our first tournament of the season I injured my shoulder…[and] for a while I wasn’t sure if I would be able to make a comeback. But I did my physical therapy and was able to get back on the mat the week before the championship tournament. My dad was a big help for me getting back to the mat. When I was doubtful of even wrestling again, he told me to set a goal even if it was as simple as competing in league.”

Peters said he appreciated the chance to compete for the title after overcoming a wealth of obstacles that had stood in his way throughout the early stages of his wrestling career. “
My experience at MCALs was astounding,” he said. “I had never been [able to] compete in the championship tournament either due to injury or not having a varsity spot. I went in just wanting to wrestle my best and give it my all. I had no reason to hold back because it [could have been] my last chance to wrestle.”

The season-ending injuries came at a practice for all MCAL wrestlers who had qualified for NCS. “Two days later at the first league practice…I was wrestling with my partner and we were practicing mat returns and he took me down awkwardly,” Peters said. “My foot got caught and I heard my knee pop. I also felt some excruciating pain in my ankle.”

The injuries put an end to Peters’ season, as he was forced to wait until after the conclusion of NCS competition for results of MRI scans taken on his injured ankle and knee. ♦