San Benito battles to 48-31 victory over Los Banos Saturday,
finishes annual dual meet tournament with perfect 5-0 record
HOLLISTER
Morris Stevens had one simple task entering Saturday’s 130-pound match against Los Banos.
Just don’t get pinned.
“I still went in there looking for a win,” Stevens said. “But yeah, a lot of added pressure. I was nervous, really nervous.”
The San Benito wrestling team, after breezing through King City (64-15), Mira Monte (60-0), North Salinas (59-16) and Piedmont Hills (63-12) at the annual Kenny Fehlman/Adam Baxter Memorial Hollister Duals on Saturday, suddenly sat in a nailbiter with undefeated Los Banos in the championship final.
Trailing 31-30 with two matches remaining, the ‘Balers sent two-time state qualifier Junior Davila to the mat. The San Benito junior racked up takedown after takedown, and opened up a 10-4 lead before winning by fall in the second round.
The victory supplied the ‘Balers with a 36-31 lead, with only Morris Stevens and the 130-pound match remaining.
“Don’t get pinned or don’t get teched,” Stevens said. “[My team] said it’s up to you.”
Stevens, who plans to be wrestling at 119 pounds later this year and weighed only 122 pounds on Saturday as a result, finished the first round with a 3-point near-fall before pinning his Los Banos opponent in the second round to propel the ‘Balers to a narrow 42-31 victory.
“I’m wrestling up about two weights, so it’s challenging,” Stevens said. “I still went out there to win the match.”
It was only until after the match did the referee rule the 171-pound bout in favor of San Benito, which increased the ‘Balers margin of victory in the end, 48-31. It was originally believed that the referee disqualified both opponents of the 171-pound match due to a heightened physical nature between the two wrestlers early on, but the Los Banos coach pulled his wrestler from the mat, resulting in the disqualification.
Nonetheless, the tournament victory was the first for new head coach Brian DeCarli, who takes over for Matt Olejnik. Olejnik is currently coaching Mira Monte High of Bakersfield, which was present for Saturday’s tournament.
“It’s just great to come out and be on the right foot,” DeCarli said. “Me personally, knowing you’ve got big shoes (to fill) and a lot of expectations for the program, it’s just nice to come out and win the thing.
“And I think more importantly for the kids is that they learned a lot.”
The ‘Balers, with a perfect 5-0 record Saturday, had nine wrestlers finish with undefeated records, including David Bazan (2-0, 112 pounds), Junior Davila (5-0, 125), Ryan Lopez (1-0, 140), Zack Rodriguez (4-0, 140), Josh Fontaine (1-0, 145), Josh Ramirez (4-0, 160), Enrique Lucatero (3-0, 171), Martin Garcia (3-0, 285) and Sam Stephens (1-0, 285).
Geo Coelho, who finished the day 4-1 at 135 pounds, delivered the fastest fall earlier in the day in just 12 seconds, and started the final dual against Los Banos with a pin in the first round to put San Benito up 6-0.
Rodriguez and Ramirez each followed Coelho’s start with pins of their own, pushing the ‘Balers ahead 18-10. The Tigers answered with pins at 189, 103 and 112 pounds before Davila reclaimed San Benito’s lead late in the dual, setting up Stevens’ match.
“I just wanted him to wrestle his match,” said DeCarli of Stevens, who was coming off his only loss of the day against Piedmont Hills. “I wanted to see him more aggressive on top. He can be such a strong wrestler on top, and he showed that last match. That was good.
“It was great to see him not only win, but seal the deal for us in the final match.”
San Benito is scheduled to wrestle next at the Coast Classic Wrestling Tournament in Santa Cruz on Dec. 19 and 20.
Other wrestlers:
Raul Suarez (3-2, 103 pounds), Angelica Banuelos (1-3, 119), Steven Borba (3-1, 145), Justin Raine (3-1, 152), Will Cazola (2-1 189), Adrian Hernandez (0-1, 189) and Brantley Mott (4-1, 215).
