Eight is enough for the Gilroy High wrestling team. Competing
Friday in the first day of Mid Cals, a two-day tournament that has
drawn over 50 teams and 300 wrestlers from around the state of
California to Gilroy, the Mustangs had eight individuals advance to
the championship bracket semifinals, and two others that will be
hoping to move through the consolation round.
Eight is enough for the Gilroy High wrestling team.
Competing Friday in the first day of Mid Cals, a two-day tournament that has drawn over 50 teams and 300 wrestlers from around the state of California to Gilroy, the Mustangs had eight individuals advance to the championship bracket semifinals, and two others that will be hoping to move through the consolation round.
Semifinal matches will begin at 10 a.m. today.
Martin Gonzalez, Jesse Delgado and Hunter Collins all won their matches by pin while Tim Ibanez, Vincent Aboytes, Travis Sakamoto, Ethan Ogle and Jesse Rogers advanced by a combination of pins, decisions and technical falls.
Michael Penyacsek and Tim Caspary will have the chance to overcome single defeats each had from the first day. If either wins their first two matches Saturday, the victories would propel them to placing in the event.
Ibanez, a 125-pounder that entered the season ranked fifth in the state but was held out of competition until last week due to delayed paperwork at the Central Coast Section offices, said he was happy to be back in a competitive setting.
“It feels good to be back,” Ibanez said. “It’s my senior year so I’m going for it all.”
Two GHS wrestlers who are not competing in the event are Rodney Balajadia and Luis Barragan. Balajadia is out with an illness and Barragan has a minor injury that shouldn’t hold him out of competition for long. Gilroy’s Jasmine Yanez lost a couple matches following a pin of her first opponent.
After the first day, Gilroy had a commanding lead in the team point totals, all but assuring the Mustangs the team title.
“It’s about where it should be,” Gilroy coach Armando Gonzalez said.
Championship matches for Saturday are expected to start at 5 p.m.
