Mustangs look to build on CCS Success at this weekend’s CIF
State Tournament
At last year’s state wrestling championships, Gilroy made history, putting four wrestlers on the podium and finishing in sixth-place as a team. Both achievements were record highs.
By the end of Saturday, the Mustangs don’t want to see the 2005 records still standing.
They want new ones.
Gilroy has nine wrestlers – almost twice as many as last year – competing in the California Interscholastic Federation State Wrestling Championships, which begin today at Bakersfield’s Rabobank Arena.
That’s almost twice as many chances at medals. Only defending champion Poway out of the San Diego Section has qualified more wrestlers with 13.
“I’m really excited. I’ve never been more excited about any tournament in my life,” said junior Rudy Maldonado, Gilroy’s 125-pound representative wrestling in his first state tournament. “(The hard work) is paying off now.”
Freshman Martin Gonzalez (103 pounds), junior Nico Naranjo (112 pounds), Maldonado (125 pounds), junior Chris Krough (130 pounds), senior Adin Dueñas (135 pounds), senior Armando Gonzalez (140 pounds), sophomore Hunter Collins (171 pounds), junior Andres Barragan (189 pounds) and senior Daniel Gamez (275 pounds) will all begin their quest to be the best in the state of California today.
Fresno State-bound Armando Gonzalez, who won his fourth Central Coast Section individual title last weekend, was Gilroy’s highest finisher last year at third at 135 pounds. Naranjo (fourth at 103), Dueñas (7th at 130) and Collins (8th at 160) are also returning medalists.
According to rankings, Armando Gonzalez and Collins have the best shot at returning to the Garlic City as state champions. For Armando Gonzalez, a state championship would be the perfect finish to a stellar four-year career at Gilroy under the guidance of father and coach Armando Gonzalez.
“It means a lot,” the younger Gonzalez said. “I just want to wrestle to my potential and make my dad proud and show for all the work we’ve done together.”
Last year, Collins became the highest-placing freshman at 160 pounds or higher ever in California. If the sophomore wrestles to his second-seeded potential, he could meet No. 1 seed Louis Bland, who was a state champion at 152 pounds as a freshman last season. The matchup is highly anticipated, especially since the two did not meet in the 171 Mid-Cal finals as expected. Bland illegally body-slammed an opponent in an earlier match and dropped into the consolation bracket.
“I hope to be in the finals and have a great match with Louis (Bland),” Collins said. “But I still have a lot of people before I get to him.”
Senior Daniel Gamez (215 pounds) had a career performance at the CCS finals and hopes to keep that momentum going at the state meet. When the season started, Gamez did not picture himself qualifying for state.
“I had my doubts that I was going to make it,” Gamez said. “It’s blowing my mind.”
Senior heavyweight Luis Chavez did not qualify for state after an early upset at the CCS meet. But he’s been training this week, helping Gamez get ready for this weekend.
“Today I had to cut five pounds and I did it,” said Gamez Wednesday, the day before the team left for Bakersfield. ” (Luis) helped me a lot. He pushed me.”
Although the Mustangs are strong and poised for success today, the team knows it can’t get too comfortable as one of the favorites.
“(State) is where most upsets happen. It doesn’t matter who you’re wrestling. It’s not like other tournaments,” Collins said. “At state, you’ve got to be ready to go at the first whistle of every match.”
CIF State Wrestling Championships Schedule
Friday, March 3
Round I – Championship Round 1 9am-10am
Round II – Championship Round 2 10am-1pm
Round III – Consolation 1 1pm-2pm
Round IV – Championship 3/Consolation 2pm-5pm
Round V – Consolation Round 3 5pm-6:30pm
Round VI – Championship 4/Consolation 4 6:30pm-8:30pm
Saturday, March 4
Round VII – Consolation 5 9am-10:15am
Round VIII – Championship Semifinals 9:30-11:30am
Round IX – Consolation 6 10:15am-11:30am
Round X – Consolation Semifinals 11:30am-12:30pm
Round XI – 3rd/5th/7th Place Matches 12:30pm-2:30pm
Round XII – Championship Finals 7:15pm
2006 CIF State Wrestling Championships Quick Facts
Defending Champion: Poway
Schools With the Most State Qualifiers: Poway (13), Gilroy (9), Ponderosa (7) and Vacaville (7)
Defending State Champions Returning: Trevor Machado, Oakdale (112 pounds); Filip Novachkov, Fremont (119 pounds); Billy Murphy, Hughson (130 pounds); Louis Bland, Central Catholic (171 pounds)
Top 8 CIF Ranked Wrestlers in Each Weight Class
103 pounds
1. Boris Novachkov, Jr. Fremont –
2. Kellen Aura, Jr. Foothill/PL
3. George Flores, Sr. Poway
4. D. Chaidez, Sr. Foothill/Bakersfield
5. Drew Velasco, Sr. North Torrance
6. Chris Done, Jr. Buchanan
7. Martin Gonzalez, Fr. Gilroy
8. Pierre Bondoc, Sr. Beyer
112 pounds
1. Nikko Triggas, Jr. Campolindo
2. Justin Paulsen, Sr. Cavalry Chapel
3. Trevor Machado, So. Oakdale
4. Josh Amaro, Sr. Los Banos
5. Justin Durham, Jr. Ponderosa
6. Kody Klaus, So. Vacaville
7. Justin Arredondo, So. Buchanan
8. Nico Naranjo, Jr. Gilroy
119 pounds
1. Caleb Flores, Sr. Northview
2. Filip Novachkov, Sr. Fremont
3. Kevin Dunn, Jr. Royal
4. David Prado, Jr. Freedom
5. Joe Boone, Jr. Poway
6. Joey Cabanas, Sr. Canyon Springs
7. Jason Lara, Jr. Cavalry Chapel
8. Andre Gonzales, Jr. Silver Creek
125 pounds
1. Todd Schravien, Sr. Poway
2. Scott Prentice, Sr. Alhambra
3. Ty Costa, Sr. Turlock
4. Michael Koehnlein, Sr. Marina
5. Phil Boyer, Sr. Foothill
6. Jovanny Velarde, Sr. Buchanan
7. A. Navarrete, Sr. Temecula Valley
8. Sean Jackson, Sr. Granada
130 pounds
1. Billy Murphy, Sr. Hughson
2. Josh Betancur, Sr. Buchanan
3. Jeff Marval, Sr. Canyon Springs
4. Jimmy Savala, Sr. Clovis
5. T. Wipfli, Jr. Foothill/Pleasanton
6. Max Baker, Jr. Elk Grove
7. Shaun Lin, Sr. Marina
8. Shane Michinock, Sr. Dana Hills
135 pounds
1. Elijah Nacita, Sr. Bakersfield
2. Chris Drouin, Sr. Chapparal
3. Larry Medina, Sr. Northview
4. Daniel Summers, Sr. Bellarmine
5. Adin Dueñas, Sr. Gilroy
6. Nate Spangler, Sr. De La Salle
7. Michael Salcido, Sr. John Glenn
8. Nick Jordan, Sr. Elk Grove
140 pounds
1. Brian Alves, Sr. Willows
2. Shad Manigault, Sr. Northview
3. Barret Abel, Sr. Union Mine
4. Armando Gonzalez, Sr. Gilroy
5. Alfonso Sanchez, Sr. McLane
6. Vinny Maraj, So. Yucca Valley
7. Joe Cisneros, Jr. Selma
8. Adam Klingsheim, Sr. Liberty/Brentwood
145 pounds
1. Tony Weber, Jr. Bakersfield
2. Lucas Espircueta, Sr. Shafter
3. Bryce Horton, Sr. Centennial
4. John Luscombe, Sr. Tuelake
5. Ted Bristol, Jr. Temecula Valley
6. Andrew Rogers, Jr. Healdsburg
7. John Alaniz, Sr. La Mirada
8. Robert Rineer, Jr. Calvary Chapel
152 pounds
1. Luke Manuel, Sr. Nevada Union
2. Jason Welch, So. Las Lomas
3. Willie Pendleton, Sr. Las Lomas
4. George Muñoz, Jr. West Covina
5. Anthony Salcedo, Sr. Dos Pueblos
6. Brett Gurrola, Sr. North Torrance
7. Anton Gottfredson, Sr. Laguna Hills
8. Travis Wood, Sr. Modoc
160 pounds
1. Matt Boger, Sr. Buchanan
2. Greg Crane, Jr. Fremont
3. Justin Danz, Jr. Ponderosa
4. Victor Carazo, Sr. Grace Davis
5. C. Hemerson, Sr. Calvary Chapel
6. Nick Bardsley, Sr. Clovis West
7. Dan Righi, Sr. Redwood
8. Dana Dill, Sr. San Clemente
171 pounds
1. Louis Bland, So. Central Catholic
2. Hunter Collins, So. Gilroy
3. Greg Prioleau, Jr. Poway
4. Adam Wilson, Jr. Righetti
5. Ryan Smith, Jr. Temecula Valley
6. Rudy Burtschi, So. Oakdale
7. Parker Barba, Jr. Redlands
8. Ronnie McCoy, Sr. Clayton Valley
189 pounds
1. Nathan Timmerman, Jr. Monache
2. Nate Willard, Sr. Atascadero
3. Abraham Otrambo, Sr. Loara
4. Anthony Castillo, Sr. Turlock
5. Cory Lehman, Sr. Poway
6. Jake Pinkham, Sr. Edison/HB
7. Sal Feliccia, Sr. Montclair
8. Bo Lukehart, Jr. Vacaville
Honorable Mention:
Andres Barragan, Sr. Gilroy
215 pounds
1. Ryan Flores, Jr. Buchanan
2. Ryan Coulsen, Sr. Elk Grove
3. Clayton Jack, Jr. Vacaville
4. Alex Trueblood, Sr. Vista
5. Geoff Hewitt, Sr. Santiago/Corona
6. Josh Casey, Sr. Rosemead
7. Ryan Dunn, Sr. San Benito
8. Dustin Black, Sr. Scotts Valley
275 pounds
1. Chris Lewis, Sr. Clovis West
2. Ryan Hoover, Jr. Hesperia
3. Andrew Blume, Sr. Sonora
4. Sergio Calderon, Sr. Corona
5. Jerico Maxwell, Sr. Crawford
6. Ron Taylor, Sr. El Camino
7. Sione Fua, Sr. Crespi
8. Ricky Alcala, Sr. Arvin
Source: www.thecaliforniawrestler.com
