Two teams who have won the past three Central Coast Section
wrestling championships faced off at O’Donnell Gym Wednesday
evening.
Two teams who have won the past three Central Coast Section wrestling championships faced off at O’Donnell Gym Wednesday evening.
That would be host Hollister High, which won the CCS in 2002 and 2000, and Bellarmine, the 2001 victor.
The match came down to the final bout – 140 pounds – with the Balers’ Alex Diaz needing to pin the Bells Brandon Kerr for a Hollister victory. Kerr proved to be a heady, defensive grappler, taking a 4-2 decision. The Bells took a 37-29 prize back to San Jose, a rare win over Hollister.
“I can’t remember them beating us in a dual meet,” said Baler head coach Matt Olejnik. “We’ve gone against them each year for the past four or five years.”
Olejnik, who is starting his ninth season as Hollister coach, was not happy with his club’s performance.
“We had no fire tonight,” said Olejnik. “Give Bellarmine credit. They came here ready to wrestle. They beat us. But, we need guys to start making a commitment. We have guys not willing to make weight. We have depth in the middle weights, but we’re stretched thin because of injuries.”
Olejnik is without two of his best wrestlers – Alejo Velasquez and Matt De La Rosa. Velasquez is slated to return in January, while De La Rosa might be out for the season with a shoulder injury.
“We have to wrestle with the wrestlers we have,” said Olejnik. “We have to come out and fight.”
“Matt is too good a coach,” said Bells’ coach Tim Kerr, in his 15th season at Bellarmine after six years at Gilroy. “Hollister’s a great program; that’s why we wrestle them. He’ll have his boys ready when it’s time.”
Kerr also dubbed the CCS race “wide open,” meaning anyone could win it, giving more hope to the Balers.
One wrestler who looked in midseason form was Octavio Lucatero, who began the evening’s match with a 19-4 technical fall over the Bells Andrew Power at 145 pounds.
“Octavio looked real good,” said Kerr. “He’s going to be tough to beat this year.”
“I want to be state champion this year,” said Lucatero, who had a band-aid covering 13 stitches above his left eye. “I have high expectations this season. I felt good tonight.”
Lucatero, who was third in the CCS last year, will wrestle at 135 pounds this year. He’s ranked No. 1 in the CCS in that weight class.
The Balers dropped the next three matches to fall behind 15-5, but Jose Garcia pinned Ted Trebaol at 1:26 at 189’s for six points for the Balers. Hollister’s Sean Donnelly walked to the mat at 215 for a six-point forfeit. Then heavyweight Tito Flores pinned Tyler Anthony at 30 seconds and the Balers were up 23-15.
“I thought when we won at 189, 215 and heavyweight we were on our way,” said Olejnik. “I really thought it.”
But the Bells struck back with back-to-back pins.
Sophomore Jamie Driskill halted the Bells’ streak with a solid 15-8 defeat of Anthony Guajardo at 119 pounds to narrow the gap to 27-26 Bells. The teams traded 3-point decisions with the Balers’ Trevor Guerra edging Kyle Wierema 4-0 at 130 pounds following a Baler loss at 125.
The Bells Armando Palomo had a dominating 15-1 victory over the Balers Brent Kelsey at 135 pounds, which was good for four points.
The Balers are at the Coyote Classic in Bakersfield this weekend.
Other varsity results:
103 – Daniel Summers pinned the Balers Jonathan Bourbon late in the first round
112 – Danny DiSalvo was pinned with 20 seconds left in the first round by the Bells Scott Cuzner
125 – Chris Uribe lost a tough 12-8 decision to the Bells David Haro
152 – In the best match of the night, Robbie Johnson fought hard, but lost to the Bells Justin Harrigan in the final seconds 13-10.
160 – Francisco Avilles lost by pin to the Bells Patrick Griffin.
171 – Kyle Horn was pinned by the Bells Michael Desmidt.
Junior varsity: Bells 46, Balers 37.
Baler winners:
160 – Josh Sanchez 26-11; 189 – John Causey won by pin; 215 – Ricardo Sanchez won by pin; Hvy. – John Mahan won by pin; 112 – Joe Verissimo won by pin; 130 – Martin Barocio won by pin; 135 – Anthony Sunseri won by pin; 140 – John Ariza won by pin
Freshmen:The Baler frosh lost 36-30.
