Naranjo wins 89-pound title at Tournament of Champions.
LOOMIS – The South Valley wrestling team sent 12 wrestlers to the March 15 Tournament of Champions (TOC), at Del Oro High School in Loomis – and seven Tigers returned with medals, the second most among competing schools.
There were more than 450 wrestlers at the championship meet that is considered the state finals for junior high programs.
Leading the local grapplers was three-time Santa Clara County Champion and returning Tournament of Champions eighth-grader Nicolo Naranjo – who was a champion again in the 89-pound weight class. Naranjo finished his middle school career with a record of 78-0, which included being a three-time TOC medalist as well as a three-time outstanding wrestler at South Valley.Â
In addition, sixth-grader Martin Gonzalez – who is also a county champ and returning TOC placer – wrestled to a fourth-place finish in the 76-pound weight division.
Seventh-grader Timothy Ibanez took second place at 83s; eighth-grader Rudy Maldonado, a returning TOC placer, battled to third place at 95s; and eighth-grader Alan Hoshida placed third at 112lbs. State medals also went to eighth-grader Luis Albarron at142s and eighth-grader Andres Barragan, a county champ, at 185s.
Gilroy High head wrestling coach Armando Gonzalez – who guided his varsity group to a Central Coast Section Championship – coached the young matmen at the state finals.
