Fifteen teams participated in the inaugural Bert Mar
Invitational hosted by Christopher High School.
Former middle school teammates, freshmen Jimmie Lopez and Victor Olmos, made sure their performances in front of the hometown crowd at the first Bert Mar Invitational at CHS were memorable.
Lopez, Christopher High’s standout 103-pounder and Gilroy’s Olmos (121 pounds) each navigated through the brackets at the inaugural one-day event held in honor of longtime South Valley wrestling head coach Bert Mar on Saturday in Gilroy.
The Cougars, who had 11 wrestlers in the tournament, finished in second place behind champion San Benito. Gilroy, who entered seven wrestlers, finished third. Daniel Barboza claimed an individual title for GHS.
Top 5 team results
1. San Benito – 130 points
2. CHS – 114
3. GHS – 109
4. North Salinas – 108
5. Andrew Hill – 83
CHS placers
103 – Jimmie Lopez – 1st
112 – Raul Meza – 2nd
119 – Ricardo Bribriescas – 4th
125 – Ralphy Retiz – 3rd
130 – Edgar Cuevas – 4th
135 – Andras Kabal – 6th
171 – Josh Aguilera – 6th
189 – John Riffle – 2nd
HWT – Steven Lopez – 2nd
GHS placers
112 – Jesus Carmenza – 3rd
119 – Victor Olmos – 1st
125 – Daniel Barboza – 1st
145 – Lupe Jimenez – 3rd
152 – Julian Carbajal – 5th
160 – Felix Gonzalez – 2nd
HWT – Jose Lara – 3rd
— Five members of the GHS wrestling team traveled to a meet in Temecula Valley. Four of the five made the podium.
112 – Paul Fox – 7th
130 – Niko Villarreal – 2nd. The freshman fell to the state’s No. 1-ranked wrestler at 130-pounds, Natrelle Deminson of Bakersfield, in the finals 10-2.
135 – Willie Fox – 3rd. Fox handled the state’s No. 2 ranked 135-pounder Vince Rodriguez in the three-place match 8-2.
140 – Blake Kastl – 4th. Kastl lost to No. 3 Tim Box of Bakersfield in the third-place match.
