Nine section champs, seven placers for top junior high
program.
GILROY – The undefeated South Valley Junior High wrestling squad entered Tuesday’s section meet at Andrew Hill Middle School with 16 of its 18 grapplers vying for weight class championships as well as berths into the county finals.
Of the 16 South Valley wrestlers, 15 were the top seeds in the 21-school field section championships – which are comprised of three different leagues. When all was said and done, the South League Champion South Valley squad produced nine section champions, three runner-ups, three third-place finishers, and one fourth-place finisher.
The nine section winners advance to the Dec. 12 Santa Clara County Championships at Campbell Middle School with matches beginning at 4:30 p.m.
“We’ve never had more than six champions at the county,” said 20-year head coach Bert Marr prior to the section meet. “The way these kids have been wrestling we’ll have nine or 10 this year.”
Leading the group of young warriors is two-time county champ Nicolo Naranjo – an eighth grader who will go for a third straight title in the 80-pound weight class.
His South Valley teammates and fellow section champs working towards their first county crowns are seventh grader Rudy Maldonado at 95 pounds; seventh grader Jason Romesberg at 100 pounds; eighth grader Allan Hoshida at 105 pounds; eighth grader Paul Gonzalez at 120 pounds; eighth grader Ismael Gutierrez at 125 pounds; seventh grader Hunter Collins at 135 pounds; eighth grader Austin Gubrud at 145 pounds; and eighth grader Andres Barragan at heavyweight.
“It’s the experience get through the Hawks,” said Coach Marr, recognizing the Gilroy Hawks wrestling club for his seasoned wrestlers. “They’re already tough and we toughen them up a little more.”
Finishing a strong second were sixth-grade 70-pounder Jonathan Ramirez, sixth-grade 75-pounder Martin Gonzalez, and seventh-grade 115-pounder Jacob Dexter. Taking third-place honors were seventh-grade 85-pounder Tim Ibanez, eighth-grade 155-pounder Luis Albarran, and eighth-grade 175-pounder Seth Whitney.
In addition, seventh-grade 90-pounder Frank Gonzalez finished fourth in the section, while 110-pounder Jimmy Prado and 165-pounder Emmanuel Tover qualified as section alternates.
South Valley completed its undefeated season with 16 consecutive victories – including three tournament titles.
Coach Marr gave three reasons for the team’s continual domination at the junior high level: 1) the Hawks club team; 2) his six-week physical education unit at school; and 3) Two-hour daily practices.
“They’ve been on the mat quite a bit before they get here,” Marr said. “We have tough practices for junior high. We go two hours. A lot of other junior highs go only an hour or an hour and a half.”
The wrestling tradition at South Valley dates back to the 1960s with Coach James Fahey – who Coach Marr took over for more than 20 years ago. This year’s assistant coaches are Louis Godinez and David Villar along with volunteer assistants Berti Marr – a county champ – and Sergio Marr – a three-time state placer at Gilroy High.
“Any coach with a winning team has a system and a lot of backing from the parents and staff,” Marr said. “We don’t differ from that system. We work real hard at it.”
South Valley is working hard to set a new school record for county champions on one team. The mark to beat is six as the action continues in the county finals at Campbell Middle School.
