Fernando Lucatero won an individual title and the San Benito
Haybalers took 14th overall among some 60 teams at the 37th annual
El Cajon Invitational last weekend outside San Diego.
El Cajon
Fernando Lucatero won an individual title and the San Benito Haybalers took 14th overall among some 60 teams at the 37th annual El Cajon Invitational last weekend outside San Diego.
The ‘Balers only brought nine of the 14 weight classes to the individually-bracketed tournament, and not one wrestler was seeded in the top eight entering the two-day tourney.
Nonetheless, San Benito placed four matmen with Lucatero earning a first-place finish after going 6-0 at 160 pounds.
“We did very well,” coach Matt Olejnik said. “We didn’t have anyone seeded in the top eight and we had four placers and one champion, so it was a very good tournament for us.”
Joining Fernando was his brother, Enrique, who took sixth place at 152 pounds, and Zach Rodriguez, who also finished sixth at 125 pounds. At 171 pounds, Manny Tovar earned an eighth-place finish.
Lake Stevens of Washington earned 274 points and first place at the invitational, while San Benito’s 95 points placed them 14th overall and fifth among wrestling teams from California.
Fernando Lucatero’s run at 160 pounds included a 9-3 decision over No. 2-seed Ronnie Chavez of Natomas. Said Olejnik, “He beat the No. 2-seed in his second match, and he beat him badly.”
Lucatero then went on to defeat Kelvin Gastelum of Cibola by a 16-12 decision in the 160-pound final.
At 125 pounds, Rodriguez cruised to a 9-0 decision in his second match over No. 2 Carlo Chavez of Natomas, while Enrique Lucatero beat No. 3-seed Brogan Ashjian of Cimarron-Memorial (Nevada) by a 7-2 decision in his second match as well.
“It was a great trip,” Olejnik said. “It took 12 hours to get there, but the tournament experience was very good.”
San Benito will now head to Santa Clara for the Silicon Valley Challenges, which begin today at 1 p.m.
Hosted by Bellarmine Prep, the ‘Balers enter the dual-meet tournament as the defending champions.
Said Olejnik, “We have to be ready to go.”
El Cajon Invitational
103 – N/A; 112 – M. Soto 2-2, DNP; 119 – M. Stevens 3-2, DNP; 125 – Z. Rodriguez 4-3, 6th; 130 – G. Coelho 2-2, DNP; 135 – R. Solis 1-2, DNP; 140 – N/A; 145 – N/A; 152 – E. Lucatero 5-3, 6th; 160 – F. Lucatero 6-0 1st; 171 – M. Tovar 4-3, 8th; 189 – N/A; 215 – B. Barraza 4-2, DNP; 275 – N/A.
