San Benito finishes sixth in Mid-Cals with two second-place
finishers
Gilroy – Second best was good enough for Junior Davila and Fernando Lucatero. It was also good enough for San Benito.
The Haybalers came to the Mid-Cals at Gilroy High School last weekend looking for respect as well as hoping to stamp themselves as the second best team in the Central Coast Section. They got that and almost a top-five finish that coach Matt Olejnik cited as another team goal — San Benito finished sixth overall.
It may have ended the ‘Balers string of three straight tournament titles, but Olejnik and his wrestlers knew that Mid-Cals was a significant step up in class.
Defending CCS champion Gilroy illustrated why it is again the team to beat by claiming its second straight Mid-Cals title with 225.50 points. The Mustangs had nine wrestlers place to easily outdistance Elk Grove, which had three individual champions and 196.50 points. Buhach Colony was third at 186.50. San Benito had 113 points and three who placed — Josh Ramirez finished fifth at 152.
Davila, however, was on of the brightest stars in a tournament that attracted top individuals and teams throughout the state. His final match against Sophan Mey, which ended with the Elk Grove senior on top 17-15, had the crowd in a frenzy.
It was a back-and-forth match won by the more experienced Thundering Herd wrestler that Olejnik called “the most exciting of the evening. It was a good learning experience. He was beaten by experience but I’m proud of him. He did a great job wrestling for the first time under the lights.”
Davila, who upended CCS No. 2-ranked Rey Mendoza of Watsonville 18-11 in the semifinals, walked off the match disappointed. Later during the evening his ever-present smile had returned.
It was a little different for Lucatero. After disposing of Justin Orozco of Salinas 11-5 in the semifinals, the ‘Baler junior was never in his match against George Gutierrez of Buhach Colony, who won a 13-1 major decision.
“He looked a little fatigued in the final match,” Olejnik said. “He usually has a lot more motion and is quicker on his feet. He got caught early and was playing catch up. Last year he was fourth as a sophomore and came in here as the fourth seed, so he wrestled well overall.”
Ramirez worked his way back after being pinned in the quarterfinals by Mitch Penrod of Bellarmine Prep. He won by major decision over Bryant Elena of Evergreen Valley, by fall over R.J. Regert of Buhach Colony, lost by decision to Marco Orozco of Salinas and then claimed fifth by winning by default over Penrod.
“This was a great test for us,” Olejnik said. “We got some good wrestling in after winning some lower level tournaments.”
