San Benito fourth in team standings through Friday
SAN JOSE
Gilroy might be headed for another section championship after all.
The Mustangs – winners of six consecutive team titles – ended Friday’s opening rounds of the CIF-Central Coast Section Wrestling Championships at Independence High School in second place with 87 points, trailing first-place Saint Francis by one.
Gilroy’s three reigning section champions, Jesse Delgado (114 pounds), Martin Gonzalez (127) and Luis Barragan (heavyweight), won all three of their matches by pin. Each is a victory away from qualifying for state.
“They’re having a great tournament so far,” Gilroy coach Armando Gonzalez said. “The section title is definitely in jeopardy, but we knew that going in. We knew that at the beginning of the season. When you’ve won six straight, you pretty much know if you’re going to have what it takes to do it again.”
The Mustangs have seven wrestlers remaining, including Willie Fox (121) and Rodney Balajadia (132) who are undefeated. Teammates Vincent Aboytes (154) and Benjamin Torricier (162) are still alive in the consolation bracket.
San Benito – currently fourth with 73.5 points – could challenge for the team title Saturday. The Haybalers advanced eight of their 13 wrestlers and have four in the winner’s bracket.
“The guys we expected to do well are holding their own,” San Benito coach Brian DeCarli said. “We’re hoping to get some more guys to step up. It’s been a decent first day, but the first day doesn’t mean much.”
Three of the four seeded Haybalers – No. 1 Josh Ramirez (147), No. 2 Junior Davila (121) and No. 4 Enrique Lucatero (162) – are undefeated and closing in on state qualifying berths. Teammate Zach Rodriguez (132) also was perfect Friday.
San Benito’s Kenny Salcedo, the No. 5 seed at 105 pounds, dropped into the consolation bracket, joining Morris Stevens (127), Steven Borba (142) and Martin Garcia (217).
The Haybalers were missing heavyweight Adam Davis, who suffered a concussion in a league dual against Gilroy.
Tony Morales of Live Oak ended his prep career Friday.
The senior was eliminated after losing to Milpitas’ Lendi Yanogacio in the second round of the 121-pound consolation bracket. Morales finished the tournament 1-2, scoring his 25th victory of the season.
“That’s his career,” Acorns coach Robert Fernandez said. “He gave it everything he had. It shows you how important it is to get seeded in this tournament. It’s a meat grinder.”
Live Oak junior Steven Fernandez, seeded fifth at 142 pounds, lost his final match Friday to No. 4 Chase McDowell of Bellarmine, but is still alive. After receiving a bye through the first round, Steven pinned Gilroy’s Adam Rosso. If Steven wins twice Saturday, he will wrestle for third place – plus a berth at state.
Sobrato’s Joseph Redmond (121 pounds) overcame a 4-0 deficit in the final period to win his last match in triple overtime and advance through Friday. He defeated Kyle Wade of Aptos.
“It was an unbelievable match,” Sobrato coach Phil Luna said. “He got an escape point with 10 seconds left in the third overtime to win.”
Kyle Shelton (103) was the only other Bulldog to survive the opening day. He and Redmond finished 3-1.
Sobrato’s Ryan Brewer (154) came close to advancing, but was eliminated after losing his final match in the consolation bracket.
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Only the top four in each weight division advance to state. The CIF-Central Coast Section Wrestling Championships will conclude on Saturday at Independence High School in San Jose. Day two will begin at 10 a.m., while the championship finals are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
