MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake High School’s new girls wrestling head coach David Peralez jumped right into the fire, taking the position just before the season began. His first match was Wednesday night against Eastmont High School.

Peralez graduated from MLHS in 2010 after wrestling all four years as a Chief, then earned his Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Washington University. Peralez has served in the past as an assistant with the high school program, in addition to working with the Moses Lake Wrestling Club.

Peralez said the lack of lead time has certainly presented some challenges.

“It’s tough to have to prepare for something when normally during a normal season you have time to go over the basics and the fundamentals before we have our first match,” Peralez said. “But I was pretty encouraged with how the wrestlers were able to absorb a lot in a short time period.”

The Chiefs only had three wrestlers hit the mat Wednesday evening, winning two out of their three matches. Peralez said he has a few wrestlers this season who have elected to wrestle at the club level, given the unorthodox schedule and circumstances.

Kathryn Pugh picked up a win by pin at 145 pounds, Jessica Mendoza took a win in the 160 weight class and Araceli Murillo fell by pin at 105. Peralez said he’s working on the fundamentals with a lot of wrestlers who are new to the sport.

Pugh’s win came in her very first match, having started on the mat last Monday in practice, Peralez said. As he gets to know his wrestlers better, he said, he’s hoping to teach them to be aggressive on the mat and tough on their feet.

Peralez said he’s had a lot of help around him so far.

“I have a great dad who wrestled, has coaching experience, so I have someone I can rely on all hours of the night, all hours of the day,” Peralez said. “Jaime (Garza) has been a huge help.”

Peralez said he has a good relationship with former MLHS girls wrestling coach Javier Valdez, who he worked with as an assistant from time to time in the past. He said one of the most fun things about stepping into this new role is feeling like he can blaze a trail for future wrestlers as women’s wrestling continues to grow in popularity.

With the tradition of the Moses Lake wrestling program, Peralez said the current team can mark the path for wrestlers coming up in the future. He said he is hoping things will open up a little more in the summer, allowing him an opportunity to take his wrestlers to some camps and tournaments.

He said he wants to help find his wrestlers mat time and experience, particularly the ones who are new to the sport.

Peralez also recently started teaching second grade at Garden Heights Elementary School after transitioning from a substitute role just before winter break. With a background in high school education, he said, he’s learned to take on being thrown into these challenges by not being afraid to ask questions and just going with the flow.