The CCS meet is slated for Feb. 25-26 at Independence High
School in San Jose.
A second-year program wouldn’t normally have such lofty aspirations. But this is Christopher High wrestling. Expectations are naturally high.
From the first moments after CHS fell nine points short of victory in its second dual of the year against Monterey, who eventually went on to finish 6-0 through the dual schedule, a fire sparked among the young grapplers. Stoking that flame, head coach Alecxis Lara.
“Monterey has consistently won the title year after year,” Lara said. “For us to have such a close match with them showed us that we are right there. The title is within our grasp and it shows the level of competition that we are at this year.”
As the season wore on the Cougars not only remained a formidable force in the MBL – going 5-1 – but the confidence, the training and the drive multiplied tenfold within each grappler. That maturity that seemed to blossom in three short months came to fruition during Saturday’s league finals.
The Cougars entered the Monterey Bay League championships primed for a run at a league title.
The margin for error allowed for little wavering toward the small window of opportunity.
Through that window, a berth into the Central Coast Section Championships, and the first leg completed in the marathon that is postseason wrestling.
But with just two automatic bids available for each weight class, the tension inundated each match and swept through the gymnasium at Pajaro Valley High School.
“The majority of my kids were on the team last year and came into it knowing what to expect,” Lara said. “The new guys have know that it’s just top two all season long. They know that all the other tournaments and everything we do is practice for the postseason. They came in pretty prepared and confident. They handled the pressure well.”
The Cougars finished with 143 team points, second behind Monterey’s 196. Watsonville placed third with 135 points, North Monterey County fourth (120.5), Monte Vista Christian fifth (55) was fifth, Seaside sixth (48) and Pajaro Valley seventh with 42 points.
CHS freshman 103-pounder Jimmie Lopez lived up to his No. 3 section ranking as he and four other Cougars qualified to the CCS Championships after making their way through the field.
Though the shy ninth grader has very little to say off the mat, his actions speak volumes when engaged in a match.
Lopez wore down Justin Duenas through the first period before picking up the victory by pin.
“I got him in an arm bar,” Lopez said.
Lopez said he is looking forward to at least a semifinals appearance at sectionals. The top four placers in each weight division advance to the state tournament.
Freshman Raul Meza (112) joined Lopez atop the podium with an individual league crown. The duo will be joined by Ricardo Bribriescas (119), Tomas Zamora (160) and John Riffle (189) who each took second.
Meza wrapped up his title via first-period pin.
“It was exciting to see that I did it and made it to CCS,” Meza said. “My coaches really prepared me and taught me well for this.”
Meza added that he is going to escalate his effort this week in practice, taking to heart some advice his dad gave him.
“My dad told me that it’s not what you do in practice when people are watching that makes you a champions, it’s what you do when no one is looking,” he said.
Andras Kabai (125), Jerome Rabena (135) and Steven White (285) placed third and are alternates for the section tourney.
