Regardless of what it means to the season at hand, the annual
Gilroy-San Benito wrestling match always means something to those
involved.
Regardless of what it means to the season at hand, the annual Gilroy-San Benito wrestling match always means something to those involved.
The first question anyone with the slightest interest in Hollister wrestling asks each year is, “When’s the Gilroy match?”
In the bigger picture sense, today’s 7pm match between the two rivals doesn’t carry a whole lot of weight. Sure both teams want to beat each other. Not only because of the Gilroy-Hollister rivalry but because it’s the two best teams in the league squaring off.
But the way this year is going for both squads, how the two heavyweights fair against each other should only serve as a preview of better things to come.
Gilroy, fresh off wins at the Mid-Cals and Mission San Jose tournament, is the top-ranked team in the Central Coast Section and has its eyes on a section title and a strong performance at the CIF state meet.
Meanwhile, San Benito is also having a terrific season and may have a chance to provide the Mustangs some competition at CCS.
The Haybalers have won the Silicon Valley Challenge Cup, Jim Root Classic and North Coast Classic tournaments and took sixth at Mid-Cals, while finishing second among CCS teams behind Gilroy.
There’s no telling what will happen when the teams take the mats tonight and you can bet Gilroy coach Armando Gonzales and San Benito coach Matt Olejnik will turn it into a chess match by shifting around their lineup.
On paper, the potential 160-pound match between San Benito’s Fernando Lucatero and Gilroy’s Ethan Ogle should be a good one. Lucatero is the top-ranked CCS wrestler in the weight class while Ogle is fifth and both juniors will be looking to enter the postseason strong.
Another highlight weight could be 112 pounds, where a pair of freshman could battle. The ‘Balers Junior Davila is ranked second in the section while the Mustangs’ Rodney Balajadia is ranked fourth.
Davila is coming off a second-place finish at Mid-Cals where he lost in the finals in a wild 17-15 decision.
Gilroy’s trip to Hollister also brings the top-ranked wrestling in the state to Mattson Gym in the Mustangs’ 103-pound freshman Jesse Delgado. Delgado sat out this weekend battling an asthma attack, but if he’s in the lineup he will certainly be the wrestler to watch tonight.
The Mustangs also feature Hunter Collins (No. 1 at 171), Andres Barragan (No. 2 at 189), Martin Gonzalez (No. 2 at 119) and Rudy Maldonado (No. 2 at 130).
Among the other top wrestlers the ‘Balers counter with are Josh Ramirez (No. 5 at 152) and Luis Boracio (No. 6 at 140).
Whatever the outcome is tonight, both teams are set for a strong showing in the postseason tournaments so that makes tonight all about pride and another renewal of a great rivalry.
Jimmy Durkin is the Hollister Free Lance sports editor. Reach him at (831) 637-5566 ext. 334 or [email protected].
Ranked Wrestlers
Gilroy – Jesse Delgado (103 – 1); Rodney Balajadia (112 – 4); Martin Gonzalez (119 – 2); Rudy Maldonado (130 – 2); Vincent Aboytes (135 – 10); Travis Sakamoto (140 – 5); Austin Gubrud (145 – 7); Ethan Ogle (160 – 5); Hunter Collins (171 – 1); Andres Barragan (189 – 2); Jesse Rogers (215 – 3).
San Benito – Junior Davila (112 – 2); Gio Coelho (125 – 15); Luis Boracio (140 – 6); Enrique Lucatero (145 – 10); Josh Ramirez (152 – 5); Fernando Lucatero (160 – 1); Sam Ramirez (171 – 15); Manny Tovar (189 – 10); Ryan Cowell (215 – 8); Buddy Barazza (275 – 11).
