The San Benito matmen will be 13-strong at this weekend’s
Central Coast Section Wrestling Championships in San Jose, and
they’ll seek a top-two team finish or three individual champs
Hollister
The San Benito wrestling team took 12 wrestlers to the Central Coast Section Wrestling Championships last year – the third most in the section – and finished in eighth place overall.
But losing your leader will do that to you.
It was the first-round match at 162 pounds, and top-seeded Fernando Lucatero battled unseeded Steven Erickson of Serra.
Instead of likely pinning his first-round opponent, however, Lucatero suffered a broken radius and ulna in his left forearm.
“It affected the whole team,” said Fernando’s brother and teammate, Enrique. “Everyone was just kinda down.”
Fernando, who was seeking to become the fifth Lucatero to qualify for the state wrestling tournament, joining brothers Jose, Eddie, Saul and Octavio, was San Benito’s only top-seeded wrestler last year. As a result of his broken forearm, though, Erickson won the first-round match by injury default.
“I couldn’t contribute to the team (last year),” Fernando said. “I definetely want to make it to the CCS finals (this year) and take it. That’s what I want to do this year.”
In a tightly-contested top 10, the Haybalers compiled 85.5 points in last season’s year-end meet, just 23 points from third-place Oak Grove. According to coach Matt Olejnik, though, if Fernando had reached the 162-pound final, San Benito would have collected, at the very least, 24 additional team points.
With a healthy team this year, and with hopefully everyone making weight, the ‘Balers are looking to prove that last year’s eighth-place finish was merely an abberration.
“We have a chance,” said 112-pounder Junior Davilla.
Well represented in the seedings, San Benito certainly has a shot. With Fernando earning the No. 2 seed at 152 pounds, four other Haybalers were rewarded with top-6 seeds for this weekend’s CCS championships, and two others received alternate seeds.
Josh Ramirez earned the top seed at 145 pounds, Junior Davilla will be No. 2 at 112 pounds, and David Bazan at 103 and Buddy Barraza at 215 were each given the 6-seed. Enrique Lucatero at 160 and Manny Tovar at 171 were given alternate seeds.
The alternates, which are essentially the 7-seed, will fill in for the sixth seed if another wrestler does not show or make weight.
San Benito will be showing 13-strong at the CCS meet, and while they’ll likely enter with plenty of motivation just from last year’s finish alone, they decided to push the envelope in terms of unity with the color of their hair.
The majority of the matmen will head to Independence High School Friday sporting bright red dye jobs, and if they finish with a top-two spot as a team or with three individual CCS champions, those fiery follicles will extend to the coaching staff.
While coach Olejnik has agreed to chopping off 16 inches of his hair with the successful completion of the team’s goal, assistant coach Pat Dunn – beard included – will partake in the dye job, according to the wrestlers.
“Obviously, we’d like to give Gilroy a challenge, but top two would be a great thing for us,” said Olejnik, as Gilroy, the third-ranked team in the state, will be seeking their sixth straight CCS title. “That’s something we’re shooting for and it’s something that is attainable. Anything lower than third (place) would be a disappointment.”
With Los Gatos – the CCS’s No. 2 ranked team – as their main threat for second place, San Benito will also need to keep wrestlers from St. Francis, Palma, Silver Creek and Overfelt at bay.
But Olejnik said his squad is stronger this year, as plenty of the wrestlers are returning to the CCS tournament. And if something out of the ordinary happens this year like it did last season, San Benito should remain afloat.
“They’ve been there before and they know what to expect,” Olejnik said. “I think if something did occur, we have enough overall strength. We have several leaders on the team.”
Joining those seeded wrestlers include Zach Rodriguez (119), Geo Coelho (125), Morris Stevens (130), Steven Borba (135), Martin Garcia (189) and Adam Davis (285).
With the CCS meet possibly being Olejnik’s last at San Benito, as he has conditionally accepted a P.E. and wrestling position at Mira Monte High School in Bakersfield, this weekend could be an emotional one as well.
“I’m hoping to put together a great effort and go out as winners,” Olejnik said. “It’d be a nice way to leave.”
With an eighth-place chip on their shoulder from last year, nothing would brighter for the Haybalers than pocketing a second place overall spot or earning three individual champions, all in an effort to send as many wrestlers to the CIF State Wrestling Championships next week.
“We’re stronger as a team (this year), stronger in character,” said Buddy Barraza.
Added Enrique Lucatero, as he rubbed his hand across his red hair, “And we’re more united, as you can tell.”
If you go
The 2008 Central Coast Section Wrestling Championships will commence today, Friday, at 10 a.m. at Independence High School in San Jose.
On Saturday, day two of the 2008 Central Coast Section Wrestling Championships will take place at 10 a.m. at Overfelt High School.
For more information, log on to www.cifccs.org/playoffs/wrestling
