BHS Wrestling: Barela and Barnhart return to help out youth wrestlers

BARSTOW — There are no numbers to retire in wrestling.

If there were, Donavan Barela and Sam Barnhart might be canidates to have theirs retired raised to the rafters by Barstow High School wrestling program. The Cal State Baskersfield wrestlers represent some of the recent successes of the Barstow wrestling program and returned to Barstow last week to help coach at a youth wrestling camp.

“It’s been great to see those guys,” Barstow wrestling coach Adam Hopkins said. “Those two set a standard here.”
Barnhart said he likes to help out the Barstow wrestling program when he can.

“I like the idea of coming back and teaching a kids program or a camp here and there,” Barnhart said. “Barstow wrestling got me to where I am right now. I’d love to see more athletes from here, especially from the wrestling program, go on to the Division I level and excel.”

Barela’s stay at the camp was limited to one day for the four-day camp due to a meniscus tear in his left knee. The injury occurred while he was practicing at Cal State Bakersfield and could sideline him about a month.

Barnhart, who is entering his sophomore year,  is expected to take over the No. 1 spot at 141 pounds for the Roadrunners. Barela, who redshirted his freshman season, will probably be the No. 2 wrestler at either 133 pounds or 141 pounds.

“So far so good. I love the program,” Barela said. “I’ve gotten a lot better and learned a lot more moves.”

The former Barstow wrestling duo roomed together last year in a dorm room and moved into a house recently in Bakersfield.

“It’s pretty cool having another Barstow graduate up there.” Barnhart said. “Other guys on the team have teammates from their high school so it is pretty cool to represent Barstow.”

Barnhart said he was pleased with the development of the youth wrestlers during the camp.

“There’s some visible improvement just from the four days we worked out here,” he said. “The stances were getting better; the shots were getting crisper. It was very encouraging.”

He was also impressed with development of the youth wrestling program, the Barstow Riffians wrestling club. The Riffians formed in 2007, the year after Barnhart graduated from Barstow High School and have consistently drawn more than 20 wrestlers to practices.

“It’s a good sign how this program is developing since I left just two years ago,” Barnhart said. “When I was here the kids club wasn’t organized and participation was not where I wanted it to be.”

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