Gilroy’s varsity wrestling team continued to show that even
though it may not take a full team to certain competitions, the
Mustangs can pack a punch in small numbers. Competing Friday and
Saturday at the Mission San Jose Invitational at Mission San Jose
High School in Fremont, Gilroy took third as a team despite only
bringing 10 wrestlers total to the competition, with two having to
bow out early due injuries, and another to match count limits.
Gilroy’s varsity wrestling team continued to show that even though it may not take a full team to certain competitions, the Mustangs can pack a punch in small numbers.
Competing Friday and Saturday at the Mission San Jose Invitational at Mission San Jose High School in Fremont, Gilroy took third as a team despite only bringing 10 wrestlers total to the competition, with two having to bow out early due injuries, and another to match count limits.
“This tournament is basically the Mid Cals of the North Coast section,” Gilroy assistant coach Mike Koester said by email. “What this means is it has mostly all of the North Coast section teams in it much like Mid Cals has a lot of CCS section teams.”
While the Mustangs had won the tournament four years counting, its lack of numbers did play a role in finishing third.
“We had won this tournament the last 4 years in a roe,” Koester said. “This year, however, we only brought 10 wrestlers and two were injured the first day which left us with 8 total.”
Gilroy ended up placing just behind De La Salle, who took second, and Clovis, which won the tournament.
Three wrestlers who are odds on favorites to place state but were held out included Jesse Delgado, Martin Gonzalez and Jesse Rogers.
More history was made by senior Hunter Collins, who won the tournament for the fourth year in a row.
“In the history of this tournament, which has been around for over 25 years, they have never had a four-time tournament champion,” Koester said. “Armando Gonzalez Jr. (coach Armando Gonzalez’ son) came close winning it three times and taking third his freshman year.
“This year Hunter Collins and Jason Welch became the first to win it all 4 years.”
Collins pinned all of his opponents at 189 pounds, including Adam O’Brien of Petaluma High in the finals. Travis Sakamoto at 145 pounds took second, losing to Tyler Sheridan of De La Salle in the finals.
Other placers were Tim Ibanez, who finished third at 125 pounds, Vincent Aboytes, who took sixth at 140 (he was forced to default to 6th place due to the 40 match rule for tournaments in a single season), Tim Caspary, who took fourth at 152; and Ethan Ogle, who medaled at third place at 171.
“We had a great tournament which should help us in our push at the end for league, section and state finals,” Koester said.
First and foremost, the Mustangs will be focusing on their next opponents: The rival San Benito Haybalers.
A dual meet is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Gilroy High gymnasium.
Armando Gonzalez’ son) came close winning it three times and taking third his freshman year.
“This year Hunter Collins and Jason Welch became the first to win it all 4 years.”
Collins pinned all of his opponents at 189 pounds, including Adam O’Brien of Petaluma High in the finals. Travis Sakamoto at 145 pounds took second, losing to Tyler Sheridan of De La Salle in the finals.
Other placers were Tim Ibanez, who finished third at 125 pounds, Vincent Aboytes, who took sixth at 140 (he was forced to default to 6th place due to the 40 match rule for tournaments in a single season), Tim Caspary, who took fourth at 152; and Ethan Ogle, who medaled at third place at 171.
“We had a great tournament which should help us in our push at the end for league, section and state finals,” Koester said.
First and foremost, the Mustangs will be focusing on their next opponents: The rival San Benito Haybalers.
A dual meet is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Gilroy High gymnasium.
Matchups that are expected to draw much of the interest are Buddy Earraza at 215 pounds. He is ranked in the Central Coast Section and will face Rogers.
Another wrestler that has been looking forward to getting a piece of the No. 1 ranked Mustangs in CCS is Junior Davila, a 112-pound San Benito wrestler who will face Gilroy’s Jessie Delgado.
Delgado has been ranked at the top in the state of California all season and is viewed as a measuring stick for many of his opponents.
Another match that should be quite even is at 160 pounds.
Fernando Lucatero of San Benito will face Mike Penyacsek of Gilroy.
