If the Gilroy wrestling team was looking for some momentum heading into tonight’s matchup with rival Hollister, it sure got it this weekend.
For the second straight year, the Mustangs traveled to Fremont and won the 85-team Mission San Jose Tournament, generally considered a meeting place for the best and brightest of the Northern Coast Section.
A year ago, Gilroy sent eight seniors and finished in a tie for first with 179 points. This year – with just one senior – the ‘Stangs posted a 184.5 score.
Granada, the top-ranked team in NCS, finished a distant second with 137 points.
“It was a very good weekend,” GHS head coach Armando Gonzalez said. “The kids wrestled great.”
Gilroy, one of only four CCS teams in the field, placed seven wrestlers, led by first-place finishers Adin Dueñas (130), Armando Gonzalez (135) and Hunter Collins (160).
“All three just dominated,” coach Gonzalez said.
Nicolo Naranjo, healthy again after a battle with bronchitis, finished runner-up to Campolindo’s Nikko Triggas, ranked No. 1 in California in the 103-pound class.
In addition, Tim Ibanez (112) finished fifth, while Rudy Maldonaldo (119) and Andres Barragan (189) placed sixth.
For the Mustangs, it’s now on to Hollister, where the rival Haybalers await tonight’s dual match.
Overall, San Benito is not in Gilroy’s class this year – but that doesn’t matter to Gonzalez.
“It’s always competitive,” the sixth-year coach said. “Back in the years when they were CCS champs, we still gave them very good matches.”
As an example, Gonzalez went back a few years to when Gilroy’s unranked Adam Ruiz faced off against the No. 1 wrestler in the section. Ruiz rallied to force overtime before eventually falling just short of a stunning upset.
“That’s what happens when you have two rivals,” Gonzalez said.
As for this year, it hasn’t been a particularly strong one for the ‘Balers. Nevertheless, they are currently ranked No. 8 in CCS and are led by section title contenders Evan Rodriguez (152), Kyle Horn (171) and Ryan Dunn (215).
“They’re scary … very dangerous,” Gonzalez said of Hollister. “They haven’t had the greatest year, so this could be something that could salvage their season.”
