The San Benito wrestling team had three grapplers place in the
top six while the squad took sixth place overall at the Coast
Classic Tournament in Scotts Valley last weekend.
The San Benito wrestling team had three grapplers place in the top six while the squad took sixth place overall at the Coast Classic Tournament in Scotts Valley last weekend.
The Haybalers earned 106 points and were third among teams in the Central Coast Section. Los Gatos finished third with 146 1/2 points while Gilroy cruised to an easy first-place finish with 243 points.
Ponderosa finished in second with 155 1/2 points.
“Gilroy is going to be head and shoulders above us in individual bracketed tournaments,” coach Matt Olejnik said. “But in dual meets, you never know how things will match up.”
Fernando Lucatero, though, defeated Gilroy’s Ethan Ogle at 171 pounds to earn the top spot in the weight class. He won by an 11-4 decision over his Mustang counterpart.
Fernando’s brother, Enrique, found himself in the championship match at 160 pounds, but lost by fall at 3:59 to Gunn’s Nic Giaccia to finish second overall.
Junior Davila finished fourth overall at 119 pounds.
Buddy Barraza (215), Manny Tovar (189) and Zach Rodriguez (125) each finished in the top 12 in their respective weight bracket at the classic.
San Benito brought 11 wrestlers, and only nine varsity matmen competed after a couple of late scratches due to the weight hydration tests.
“It was good to see other CCS schools,” Olejnik said. “Most of our guys who lost, lost to other guys outside the CCS, so that won’t hurt our rankings.”
The ‘Balers will head south after the holidays to compete in the El Cajon Invitational in San Diego on Dec. 28-29. Among the competition San Benito could see at the 64-team tournament are perennial state powerhouse Poway, as well as other teams from Oregon, Virginia, Washington, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona.
Coast Classic Results
103 – K. Salcedo, 0-2; 112 – M. Soto, 2-2; 119 – J. Davila, 4-2; 125 – Z. Rodriguez, 3-2; 130 – G. Coelho, 2-2; 135 – E. Ortega, 1-2; 140 – R. Solis, 1-2; 145 – N/A; 152 – N/A; 160 – E. Lucatero, 4-1; 171 – F. Lucatero, 5-0; 189 – M. Tovar, 3-2; 215 – B. Barraza, 4-2; 285 – N/A.
