GILROY — Sometimes even the best wrestlers need a little motivation. Heading into the 2014 Mid-California Wrestling Tournament, Nikko Villarreal’s coaches offered him a challenge — get 40 takedowns over the two-day competition.
After picking up six in the final match against Wyatt Wyckoff from Paradise, the Gilroy defending state champion had 40 on the dot and won his second consecutive Mid-Cal title with an 18-3 major decision.
“I’ve got a lot of goals. I’m trying to go undefeated again; I’m trying not to get taken down all season,” Villarreal said. “So far I’ve been doing a good job. The next goal I’m trying to beat is the most takedowns in a high school career and I’m almost there.”
Villarreal, who was named the Outstanding Middle Weight Wrestler of the tournament, was joined in the winner’s circle by teammates Paul Fox (154) and Matt Penyacsek (172), who helped the Mustangs to a first place team title. Gilroy had 11 wrestlers place in the tournament.
Fox battled Christopher’s Alex Garcia in a crosstown rematch of their Jan. 15 dual meet, winning 9-2. The Gilroy wrestler said he knew Garcia would make adjustments, but his preparation would paid off in the end.
Garcia, who battled his way from the No. 9 seed, said he was ready to meet Fox in the circle once again.
“There’s a big difference in experience from last time to right now,” Garcia said, following his semifinal win over Quentin Hernandez from Pitman. “I feel like I’ve prepared myself a lot more to face my rival.”
Garcia was one of two Cougars to place at Mid-Cals. Jimmie Lopez (108) took sixth at 108.
Penyacsek dominated his bout with Arshdeep Dhanu, the No. 3 seed from Dinuba. The junior wrestler picked up takedown after takedown on his opponent to win a major decision of 10-0 for his first Mid-Cal title.
“I’m really glad to have people like Paul and Nikko to look up to and set standards for my wrestling. I want to be a state champion like them,” Penyacsek said. “I guess I just went out there thinking I was going to win anyway just because I’ve been wrestling really good all year and I’ve had a lot of hard opponents already. I was just confident. ”
The only other area placer was Sobrato’s Brandon LeFore who took fifth in the 162 lb. group. LeFore topped Gilroy’s Javin Aragon in the fifth-sixth place match by a 9-0 major decision. He landed in the consolation bracket after losing a 6-2 decision to Logan Wolfley from Pitman in the quarterfinals.
“I just keep grinding and keep wrestling,” LeFore said. “I just keep working towards beating one guy at a time.”
As the Mustangs enter the second half of their season, coach Greg Varela said he’s stressing the importance of winning for each other and creating a bond that will last long after this season ends.
“I’m on cloud nine right now,” the Gilroy coach said. “This group of seniors that we have has been together since they were babies. They’ve really grown together, sacrificed together. I’m just so happy for them that they get to have this experience.”
Gilroy bested wrestlers from the 91 teams in attendance at Mid-Cals.
“This tournament was just our year, I guess,” Fox said with a smile.
Top three teams:
1. Gilroy
2. Dinuba
3. Pitman
Outstanding Wrestlers
Heavyweight: Miguel Ruiz, Pioneer Valley
Middle-Weight: Nikko Villarreal, Gilroy
Lightweight: Devan Turner, Dixon
Champions, local placers
108: 1st place- David Campbell, Mission Oaks; 6th place – Jimmie Lopez, Christopher; 7th place – Gavin Melendez, Gilroy
115: 1st place – Devan Turner, Dixon; 5th place – Victor Daza, Gilroy
122: 1st place – Isaiah Palomino, Bellarmine; 2nd place – Jesse Vasquez, Gilroy
128: 1st place – Rafael Herrera, Turlock; 2nd place – Victor Olmos, Gilroy
134: 1st place – Armand Molina, Firebaugh
140: 1st place – Joseph Jauregui, Clovis East; 4th place – Lupe Jimenez, Gilroy
147: 1st place – Nikko Villarreal, Gilroy
154: 1st place – Paul Fox, Gilroy; 2nd place – Alex Garcia, Christopher
162: 1st place – Nick Callender, Clovis East; 5th place – Brandon LeFore, Sobrato; 6th place – Javin Aragon, Gilroy
172: 1st place – Matt Penyascik, Gilroy; 3rd place – Julian Carabajal, Gilroy
184: 1st place – Skyler Gonzales, Rocklin; 2nd place – Mark Penyascik, Gilroy
197: 1st place – Richie Brandt, Liberty
222: 1st place – Miguel Ruiz, Pioneer Valley
Heavyweight – 1st place, Gary Miltenburger, Fremont
