Behdod Katebian All student-athletes should aspire to be like Behdod Katebian.

Succeed in school, excel in sports and still find time for fun.

This Thousand Oaks High wrestler not only qualified for the state meet at 119 pounds as a junior last year, Katebian is also an honors student who wants to study biochemistry at either Brown or Columbia, two Ivy League institutions.

The Lancer also enjoys hanging out with friends and playing combat video games.

On the mat, Katebian has proven to be a fierce warrior.

“He’s a real student of the sport,” said Kerry Lyne, who has coached wrestling at TOHS for 10 seasons.

“He’s smart and tough. Sometimes you get one or the other.”

Katebian, 17, gradually developed his skills through hard work and focus.

The grappler said he didn’t find his niche until the last match of his sophomore year, when he took a CIF-Southern Section Masters qualifier to the limit before losing by a slim margin.

FIERY COMPETITOR—Thousand Oaks High’s Behdod Katebian, right, works on his finishing moves during a recent practice. Katebian, a senior honors student, carries a 4.45 grade-point average. WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers “I can see huge improvements from my freshman year to now,” the senior said before a Tuesday afternoon practice. “The amount for someone to improve in this sport is huge.”

Katebian, who wrestles anywhere from 125 to 135 pounds, leads the Lancers (2-0 in the Marmonte League) into a big home dual meet against league rival Simi Valley at 7 p.m. tonight.

The senior had a whirlwind offseason.

Katebian needed surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee last summer. Just before he was cleared to return, Katebian underwent an emergency appendectomy, which shelved him for another month.

The grappler feels he is just now finding his groove.

“At the beginning of the year, I was in a rut,” Katebian said. “I was tentative. Now I’m in a rhythm.”

Lyne thinks Katebian’s appendectomy may have been a blessing in disguise. Instead of rushing back from the knee injury, the senior had an extra four weeks to heal, which the coach thinks was good for his long-term health.

Another side effect of Katebian’s injuries is a heightened interest in medicine, specifically in how doctors treat sportsrelated injuries.

He said he would like to become an orthopedic surgeon.

Katebian feels comfortable where he’s at right now.

“I’m trying to have fun,” he said. “I’m trying to keep the pressure low. Last year there was more pressure.”

Teammates appreciate Katebian’s presence in the wrestling room.

“He’s a good workout partner,” said senior Josh Bass, a 119pounder. “He always works real hard, and he’s a good leader.”

Katebian had the best workout partner possible for two years in high school—his brother, Behrod.

Behrod Katebian, who also reached the state tournament, graduated TOHS in 2008. He is now a pre-med student at Cal State Northridge.

It took a while, but the younger Katebian discovered how to become a strong wrestler.

“I did not like it right away,” he said. “I felt like there was a lot of pressure. I wasn’t confident.

“Then I started to gain confidence. I realized I could achieve a lot in the sport.”

Katebian made the biggest jump between his sophomore and junior years in skill, confidence and growing into his body.

In the classroom, Katebian carries a 4.45 grade-point average. He takes Advanced Placement courses in physics, English and U.S. government. Last year, he took honors chemistry, calculus and English.

“It’s really about knowing your priorities,” he said. “School comes first, then wrestling. I have to get those two squared away first.”

Katebian is one of three Marmonte wrestlers in roughly the same weight range who qualified for state in 2008-09.

Royal’s Edward Ruiz and Saul Garcia of Moorpark joined the Lancer at the state meet.

This year, Katebian has bigger goals. He wants to earn a topthree finish at state and a spot on the podium during the awards ceremony.

“I know exactly what I have to work on,” the senior said.

Lyne said the grappler has what it takes to achieve his goals.

“He’s got a good shot at it,” the coach said. “The good news is he’s been to state as a junior. It’s not as intimidating the next time around.”