The Tri-County Athletic title was nice. The Central Coast
Section championship was even better.
The Tri-County Athletic
title was nice. The Central Coast Section championship was even better.
But when it comes to wrestling season, everything Gilroy does is geared toward the CIF State Championship today and Saturday at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.
After all, the Mustangs have won five straight CCS and TCAL titles. The last two CCS titles have come by wide margins. There were no wild celebrations after the latest CCS title last weekend. There was still business to conduct.
It’s not that 11th-year GHS coach Armando Gonzalez expects to win the state title. While Gilroy has been climbing the ladder in recent years, it hasn’t made it to the top yet.
It’s unlikely to happen this year, not with top dogs Poway advancing 14 wrestlers and Buchanan qualifying 11. But the Mustangs will contend for a top-5 finish, Gonzalez believes, for a second straight year. Gilroy finished fourth last year, its best finish ever.
“I feel good about the team,” Gonzalez said. “I am hoping we can finish fourth. I believe we can contend for five state medals.”
With seven qualifiers, the Mustangs are even with Bakersfield, Selma, Lemoore and Ponderosa. They are two behind Vacaville and Clovis, who each had nine. And Tememcula, with six qualifiers, is another top team.
Individually, junior Hunter Collins finished second last year at 173 behind Louis Bland of Modesto Central Catholic. Collins’ (39-1) only loss this season came against Justin Danz of Ponderosa. Bland is a two-time state champion, winning at 154 his freshman year and 173 last year when he had two takedowns in the final 35 seconds to beat Collins 8-5. Nevertheless, Collins’ runner-up finish was the best for a Mustang in 19 years.
Freshman Jesse Delgado (36-2) is the No. 1 seed at 105. He is undefeated against state wrestlers, including a 3-2 win over former No. 1 rated Cody Pack of Quincy in the Mid-Cals.
“I need to bring it up another level at state,” Delgado said after the CCS meet. “I could have been a little more aggressive.”
Martin Gonzalez finished fifth last year as a freshman at 105. He is now at 121, one of the more competitive weight classes. In addition to nemesis Andre Gonzalez of Silver Creek, defending 114-pound champ Niko Triggas is at 121. Triggas dominated Martin Gonzalez when they met at Mid-Cals.
“Placing in the top-8 would be a great victory for me,” Gonzalez said. “It’s definitely in my sights. This weight class seems to have nothing but seniors.”
Seniors Andres Barragan and Nicolo Naranjo are both back for another shot at the state meet. Naranjo finished fourth as a sophomore at 105. Travis Sakamoto and Jesse Rogers round out Gilroy’s state qualifiers.
State Schedule
Today
Round 1, 9-10am
Round 2, 10am-1pm
Consolation 1, 1-2pm
Championship 3/Consolation 2, 2-5pm
Consolation Round 3, 5-6:30pm
Championship 4/Consolation 4, 6:30-8:30pm
Saturday
Consolation 5, 9-10:15am
Championship Semifinals, 9:30-11:30am
Consolation 6, 10:15-11:30am
Consolation Semifinals, 11:30am-12:30pm
3rd, 5th, 7th Places, 12:30-2:30pm
Recognition Program, 6:30-7:15pm
Championship Finals, 7:15pm
Gilroy opening matches
105-Jesse Delgado vs. Chad Thornack, San Jacinto; 121-Martin Gonzalez vs. Ryan Menketti, Ponderosa; 127-Nicolo Naranjo vs. Julian Perez, Lemoore; 142-Travis Sakamoto vs. Nikko Cataline, Roosevelt; 173-Hunter Collins vs. Russell Carlin, Quartz Hill; 191-Andres Barragan vs. William Taylor (Oakland)-David Travis (Foothill) winner; 217-Jesse Rogers vs. Roy Boughton, Mt. Diablo
