San Benito wrestlers rout Salinas, prepare for league finals
Saturday in Gilroy
Hollister – The San Benito wrestling team got itself in shape for Saturday’s Tri-County Athletic League finals with a resounding 58-6 win Wednesday over Salinas.
The Haybalers won eight of the 10 contested matches and earned four forfeits in the victory.
Freshman 114-pounder Junior Davila secured the top seed at TCALs by earning a 19-9 win that left him unbeaten in league matches this season.
“I feel ready,” Davila said. “I beat all the guys in league and I know they’re going to want to come after me.”
Davila wrestled Wednesday with a bit of a fever, but needed the win to ensure he’ll be the top seed when seedings are announced tonight.
“That was huge,” San Benito coach Matt Olejnik said. “You never know how your going to feel at CCS. Sometimes you have to wrestle sick. He looked good doing it.”
The most entertaining match of the night came at 105 pounds with San Benito’s Tim Christensen rallying for an 11-9 victory. He trailed 7-2 early on, with both points coming on Salinas penalty for illegal moves.
Late in the second period, a take down and near fall tied the match at 7 and Christensen took a 9-7 lead on another Salinas penalty.
A reversal by Christensen made it 11-7 before his lead was narrowed to 11-9. With the whole gym screaming, Christensen held on for the win.
“He’s getting better,” Olejnik said of the freshman. “He showed a lot of heart. He’s going to have to beat guys like that to advance to the sections.”
Other strong performances came at the heaviest weight classes, where the ‘Balers recorded three straight pins.
Manny Tovar recorded a second-round pin at 191 pounds, Ryan Cowell pinned his opponent in the third round at 217 pounds and heavyweight Buddy Barraza recorded a quick first-round fall.
San Benito will begin its postseason run Saturday at Gilroy at the league meet. The host Mustangs are the favorite, with the ‘Balers looking for a strong second-place finish and hoping to get a full squad qualified for the Central Coast Section tournament Feb. 23-24 at Overfelt High.
“Our goal is to get 14 to qualify for CCS,” Olejnik said. “If we want to challenge for second place with Los Gatos (at CCS), all 14 have to score some points.”
The top four wrestlers in each weight class at the league meet move on to the CCS tournament.
