Expected to be Gilroy wrestling’s biggest challenger in the
Tri-County Athletic League this season, the Palma Chieftains put up
little resistance Wednesday as the Mustangs won their dual meet
60-9.
Salinas
Expected to be Gilroy wrestling’s biggest challenger in the Tri-County Athletic League this season, the Palma Chieftains put up little resistance Wednesday as the Mustangs won their dual meet 60-9.
Had Gilroy not been forced to forfeit the 125-pound division, it’s possible Palma would have been left with just three points earned through an overtime victory by Isaiah Jimenez over Ethan Ogle.
One of the most evenly matched pairings of the night, Ogle and Jimenez finished three rounds tied at three points apiece before a sudden-death situation allowed the 171-pound Jimenez to score a takedown and earn the victory. There were several suspect calls by the official in favor of both wrestlers, but after the match Ogle was gracious in defeat.
“Sometimes, that’s just how it goes,” Ogle said. “[The referee] made a questionable call but you gotta make sure it doesn’t get to that point.”
Five Mustangs who made sure there were no judgment calls to be made were Danny Contreras, Vincent Aboytes, Mike Penyacsek, Hunter Collins and Luis Barragan, who all won their matches by pin.
Penyacsek’s pin was the most dramatic of the five as he managed to overcome an 8-1 deficit. In one fluid motion, Penyacsek escaped a hold by his opponent before pulling off a “half”, where an individual’s shoulders are pinned while the legs are perpendicular to the mat.
“I don’t really look at the score (while wrestling), but I knew I was down a lot and had to keep working,” Penyacsek said. “I think he tired out.”
One Gilroy wrestler who wasn’t about to let fatigue be a factor was heavyweight Luis Barragan, who entered the meet ranked second in the Central Coast Section and was pitted against Palma’s Evan Swensen, the No. 1 ranked wrestler in CCS.
Leading 2-0 in the second round, Barragan found Swensen vulnerable and managed to maneuver the Chieftain onto his back. Seconds later Barragan was awarded the fall, most likely moving him to the top spot in the section.
“All I had to do was stay focused and keep my head in the game,” Barragan said. “I stayed out of football and trained hard all summer for this.”
The victory had immediate implications.
“It gives me a lot of confidence by pinning him,” Barragan said. “It shows I can win [CCS], for sure.”
Gilroy High head coach Armando Gonzalez echoed those thoughts when saying, “He just got himself a No. 1 ranking in the section, which is what we hoped for.”
Other GHS wrestlers who won their matches by decision or major decision included Jesse Delgado (6-1), Martin Gonzalez (9-2), Rodney Balajadia (17-3), Travis Sakamoto (15-6), Tim Caspary (20-5), Jesse Rogers (5-4) and Jasmine Yanez (8-2).
Yanez’ victory was unique in the fact that she is the first female to ever compete full-time at the varsity level for Gilroy High. Add in the fact that she is just a freshman and opponents often feel extra motivation when facing a girl, and Yanez’ victory takes on greater significance.
“Right now, it’s new to me at the high school level,” Yanez said, “I just want to get as far as I can.”
Coach Gonzalez said the focus now shifts to the Five Counties meet taking place Friday and Saturday in Los Angeles. Gilroy will be taking seven wrestlers to the event, which draws the best talent in Southern and Central California.
“We have our three big guns (Delgado, Martin Gonzalez and Collins), that’s why we go,” coach Gonzalez said. “The four other guys (Sakamoto, Ogle, Rogers and Barragan) have an outside shot (of winning).”
Junior Varsity Note:
Gilroy’s junior varsity squad also defeated Palma in a duel meet Wednesday, albeit by a far smaller margin than the varsity, 42-33.
Mustangs coach John Gurich said the middle weights – Nick Ahmadkhani (119 pounds), Mickey Lucero (125), Martin Espinoza (130), Adrian Melendez (135) and Adam Rosso (140) – carried the team.
“All those guys came through with big pins to set up the win,” Gurich said.
The junior varisty team will be competing Friday at 3:30 p.m. at the Overfelt Invitational.
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