Brian Taylor
Sports Editor
11/3/2009

    When it comes to wrestling, Dusty Vaughn knows how to compete. This two-time high school state finalist and one time Colorado state champion has been wrestling since the fourth grade, and helped Colorado’s wrestling powerhouse, Adams State College, improve to and maintain a fifth place national standing in Division II competition.
    Vaughn recently took the helm of Lassen High School’s wrestling program signing the contract on Wednesday, Oct. 28 during a coaches meeting. Vaughn has high hopes as head coach to build a strong and competitive program in the years to come.
    “I want to take this program to the next level,” said Vaughn. “I want to build it up, and I want it to be something that people are proud of. Whenever someone hears Lassen wrestling, they are going to know who we are. It’s a 30 year plan.
    “When people come to a Lassen match they can expect to see a lot of points being scored,” said Vaughn. “I like to see a lot of points on the board, I always have.
    “The kids are going to wrestle with a new aggression, a new attitude and wrestle with new techniques. We are going to use techniques used at the national level for both high school and college. Get ready for points,” Vaughn said.
    Out of high school, Vaughn attended Lassen Community College where he wrestled for the Cougars. Vaughn met his girlfriend at Lassen and the two moved back to Colorado where they received their degrees.
    Vaughn received multiple degrees in physical education and history at Adams State College located in the town of Alimosa.
    Vaughn then went on to help coach wrestling at Alimosa High School, also a powerhouse in the wrestling community, with seven state titles. With Vaughn’s help, Alimosa secured a 29th place finish in the nation.
    To put this in perspective, California alone has 856 wrestling schools. Alimosa has been ranked as high as seventh in the nation and continues to thrive under the coaching of Gary Ramstetter, one of Vaughn’s mentor coaches. Also influential in Vaughn’s wrestling career was his high school coach Pat Pace.
    The Lassen High School wrestling team will make its first public appearance at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2 in the boy’s gym during a Purple and Gold wrestle off.
    This preliminary showing will determine the starting lineup for a tournament scheduled for Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5 in Chester, Calif.