EOU Removes Interim Tag, Names Mhar Caballa Head Women’s Wrestling Coach
By Garrett Christensen on Wednesday, July 5th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – (Release from Eastern Oregon University) After one season as the interim head coach for Women’s Wrestling, Eastern Oregon University and Athletic Director, Anji Weissenfluh have announced that Mhar Caballa has been named the sixth head coach in program history.
“I am excited to announce that Mhar Caballa has been named the head women’s wrestling coach,” Athletic Director Anji Weissenfluh said. “He spent the last season under the interim title and has proven himself to be a coach who has what we are looking for within the department.”
Caballa officially takes over the program after one year in the driver’s seat as an interim head coach during the 2022-23 season. In his first year Caballa led the Mounties to a 6-3 dual record and a fourth-place finish at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Tournament hosted by EOU.
“It is an honor to be named the head coach at Eastern Oregon University and I am excited to keep building the program,” Caballa said. “I want to thank our athletic director, Anji Weissenfluh, for the opportunity and believing in my vision for the program.”
At the inaugural NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Championship Tournament Caballa coached eight national qualifiers to a 12th place finish. Their finish was just a spot behind their highest national ranking during the season of No. 11. At the conclusion of the Championships Eastern had four women earn All-American honors under Caballa’s guidance.
“He is a team player who emphasizes competitive excellence on the mat and in the classroom with his student-athletes,” Weissenfluh said. “Under Mhar’s leadership the women’s program experienced success and I am excited to see the program grow and continue to build.”
Prior to taking the position as the interim head coach of the women’s wrestling program, Caballa served as an assistant on EOU’s men’s wrestling team. He started as graduate assistant for a year during the 2019-20 season then served as an assistant coach for the next two seasons.
During his time alongside Men’s Wrestling Head Coach Dustyn Azure, Caballa helped turn the Mountaineers into one of the top teams in the country on the mat and in the classroom. In his last season as an assistant the men’s team finished as a top-15 team in the country and ranked in the top 10 academically while winning the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship for the first time in program history.
As a student-athlete, Caballa was a three-time NAIA National Qualifier and posted over 100 wins in college spending two years at Montana State University-Northern and three years at Eastern Oregon. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Human Performance/Exercise Science from Eastern Oregon University. Following his undergrad, Caballa completed his Masters of Arts Degree in Teaching Secondary Education in 2022.
“EOU and La Grande have had a positive impact on me and my life. I look forward to continuing to cultivate relationships I have built with the student-athletes, alumni, supporters and in the community,” Caballa said.
