Gilroy is off and running in its bid for an historic fifth
straight Central Coast Section wrestling championship.
Gilroy is off and running in its bid for an historic fifth straight Central Coast Section wrestling championship.
The Mustangs placed eight wrestlers in the semifinals and have 11 of their 13 grapplers still in the running for a berth in the CIF State Championships next weekend in Bakersfield.
Jesse Delgado, 105; Martin Gonzalez, 121; and Hunter Collins, 173, all scored the maximum number of points by pinning all of their opponents during first-round action at Independence High School.
Nicolo Naranjo, 127, had the quickest pin for the Mustangs in 36 seconds, and also had a technical fall. Andres Barragan, 191, had two pins and a major decisions. Jesse Rogers, 217, had a pin and major decision.
Other GHS wrestlers advancing into the semifinals with unblemished records are Rudy Maldonado, 132, and Travis Sakomoto, 142. Rodney Balajadia, 114; Austin Gubrud, 147; and Ethan Ogle, 162 are also still alive for a top-four finish and automatic state berth.
Gilroy compiled 139.5 points to out-pace runner-up Los Gatos, 100. Palma is third with 76 points. St. Francis, in sixth place with 66 points, advanced five wrestlers into the semifinals.
Top seeds who moved into the semifinals besides Delgado and Collins are Mike Duran of Sobrato, 114; Andre Gonzalez, Silver Creek, 121; Boris Novachkov, Fremont, 127; Devin Matsuda, James Lick, 132; Dominic Kastl, St. Francis, 137; Geoff Doss, Los Gatos, 142; Aris Harutyunyan, Cupertino, 147; Joey Wilson, 154, Half Moon Bay; John Hall, Palo Alto, 191; Davonte Carr, Oak Grove, 217; and Rafael Sanchez, James Lick, 287. Fernando Lucatero of San Benito, the top seed at 162, suffered a broken forearm and had to default out.
Wrestling continues today at 10am at Overfelt High School. Gilroy is looking to break the record of Oceana, which won four straight CCS titles from 1983-86.
Gilroy Results
105-Jesse Delgado p. Jose Ruiz, Watsonville, 1:20; p. Michelle Jimenez, Oak Grove, 1:14
114-Rodney Balajadia p. Jesse Perez, Monterey, 1:30; Joshua Go, Overfelt, p. Balajadia, 5:16; Balajadia d. Tina Linhsamount, Silver Creek, 9-0
121-Martin Gonzalez p. Felipe Zamudio, James Lick, 3:29; p. Lucas Solorio, Oak Grove 1:51; p. Nam Nguyen, Bellarmine, 3:30
127-Nicolo Naranjo p. John Libiran, Riordan, :36; tf. John Tran, Silver Creek, 15-0
132-Rudy Maldonado d. Jesus Sagrero, San Benito, 9-5; d. Joey Citelli, Leigh, 8-4
137-Cody Rodebaugh, San Lorenzo Valley, p. Vincent Aboytes, 5:12; Luis Barocio, San Benito, d. Aboytes 6-4
142-Travis Sakamoto p. Jason Ino, Wilcox, 3:24; d. Jeff Parson, Bellarmine, 7-4; d. Jessie Piccolotti, Terra Nova, by injury default
147-Austin Gubrud d. Kyle Grimm, Los Altos, 9-4; Danny Gonzales, Independence, d. Gubrud, 8-0; Gubrud p. Roy Matsuyama, Monterey, 4:07
162-Ethan Ogle d. Eli Sanchez, Bellarmine, 3-1; d. Matt Hourigan, Santa Clara, 2-0; Josh Garcia, Andrew Hill, d. Ogle, 4-2
173-Hunter Collins p. David Hernandez, Cupertino, 2:45; p. Torn Swale, Branham, 2:51; p. Zac Cook, Prospect, 1:52
191-Andres Barragan p. David Rodriguez, Overfelt, 3:35; p. Mitchell Truan, Leland, 1:40; md. Kyle Vance, Hillsdale, 13-5
217-Jesse Rogers p. Tui James, Independence, 4:00; md. Dominick Jackson, Monterey, 14-4
287-Chaz Guerrero d. Chris Campbell, Gunn, 6-0; Kurtis Szerlip, Santa Teresa, p. Guerrero 3:08; Guerrero md. Graham Paterson, Monta Vista, 12-2; Semisi Hoko, Los Altos, p. Guerrero, 3:38
