High School Sports

The simplest way to put it: Gilroy High soccer player Jonathan Diaz De Leon is a game changer. Put him at forward and he was one of the deadliest strikers in the Tri-County Athletic League.

Christopher High’s Peter Hilkene tied for third with a 42 at the season opening Tri-County Athletic League Avalley Division golf meet at Salinas Golf and Country Club on Monday.

Charles Walker garnered Tri-County Athletic League recognition in two categories, including a bid to the first-team all-league list after his senior season with the Gilroy High basketball team.

Led by Manny Avila’s five goals, the Christopher High lacrosse team evened its early season record with a 9-8 victory over host Santa Cruz on Friday night.

Jaylan Gallardo pitched 6.2 innings, Justin Nelson had three RBIs and the Gilroy High baseball team defeated Hayward 4-2 in nonleague action Saturday in Gilroy.

Gilroy High wrestling coach Greg Varela tells a story dating back six or seven years. In it, Varela, who is in his third year at the helm and 10th overall with the program, poignantly describes a handful of young wrestlers training together in a garage as he guides the way with the help of a couple other coaches.

Last week the number was 10, as in 10 straight section championships. On Saturday morning in Bakersfield, the magic number was 3. In a span of 20 minutes  three Gilroy High semifinalists became a trio of finalists and are one win away from a CIF State Wrestling championship.

Three wrestlers are two wins away from one ultimate prize. After a long, long Day 1, which began with weigh-ins at 7 a.m. and concluded with the final match of the evening after 9 p.m., Gilroy High will have three wrestlers start Day 2 in the semifinals of the California Interscholastic Federation Wrestling Championships at Raboback Arena in Bakersfield.

With about four hours left in a marathon 12-hour Day 1 at the CIF State Wrestling Championships on Friday in Bakersfield, Gilroy High’s Paul Fox (126), Nikko Villarreal and Willie Fox (145) prevailed in their Championship Round 3 matches, are all 2-0 and into the quarterfinals.