Local wrestling enthusiasts get top-notch coaching at annual WHC camp

Former Lemoore High School state wrestling champion and Oklahoma State national wrestling champ Chris Pendleton was one of the featured coaches at the annual camp led by former Lemoore High School and West Hills College Wrestling Coach Kent Olson.

Pendleton led an impressive array of coaches and wrestlers who attended the camp last week. Pendleton won a California State Wrestling championship when he competed for the Tigers, and he’s currently an assistant coach at Arizona State University.

Pendleton also won two national championships in wrestling while a student at Oklahoma State University. He’s also a member of the Lemoore High School Hall of Fame. The only other Lemoore wrestler to win a national title is Isaiah Martinez, who recently won his second national title in a row at the University of Illinois.

Pendleton was joined by Fresno State’s new wrestling coach Troy Steiner, who was recently hired after the Bulldogs reinstated wrestling to the school’s athletic lineup.

Other coaches included Jamill Kelly, Associate Head Coach Stanford; Zach Sanders, Assistant Coach at the University of Minnesota; Jason Welch, Northwestern, and Jon Reader Assistant Coach South Dakota. 

Steiner engaged with the participating athletes and managed to find time to work with nearly all of them – from the six year olds, to the high school seniors. He had time for all, including speaking with parents after the sessions.

Steiner was also impressed with the arena, calling it an "amazing facility" for a community college. Steiner said he looked forward to building his Fresno State program with San Joaquin Valley talent and plans on attending the camp next year as well. 

Photos by Dennis Gallegos

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