Zack Rodriguez finished in second place, both Mikey Soto and
Miguel Martin del Campo took third place in their respective weight
classes, and the San Benito wrestling team earned a fifth-place
spot at the 24-team Coach DeLiddo Invitational last week in
Lemoore.
LEMOORE
Zack Rodriguez finished in second place, both Mikey Soto and Miguel Martin del Campo took third place in their respective weight classes, and the San Benito wrestling team earned a fifth-place spot at the 24-team Coach DeLiddo Invitational last week in Lemoore.
The Balers compiled 123 team points to record a top-five finish, placing behind Clovis West, Clovis, Lemoore and tournament champion Elk Grove, which logged 250.5 points.
The team’s fifth-place spot was earned despite an individual champion, as well as competing without a 119-pound wrestler or a heavyweight.
Zack Rodriguez came the closest to earning a title in the 145-pound weight class. The San Benito senior won his first three matches of the tournament last Wednesday and Thursday before falling to DJ Quiroz of Dos Palos by a 10-7 decision in the final.
Meanwhile, Mikey Soto and Miguel Martin del Campo each finished in third place in their respective weight classes.
At 140 pounds, Soto lost his first match of the tournament, then battled back through the consolation bracket and won his next five matches to finish with a 5-1 record.
It was a similar end result for Martin del Campo, who lost his second match of the tournament before eventually finishing with a 5-1 record at 189 pounds.
In the third- and fourth-place consolation match, though, Martin del Campo avenged a previous loss to William Zeledon of Dos Palos. Zeledon defeated Martin del Campo by a 10-4 decision in the 189-pound quarterfinals, but the San Benito wrestler returned the favor later in the tournament when he pinned Zeledon to earn third place.
The Balers advanced nine of their 12 wrestlers to the second day of action, and placed four in the top four of their respective weight class. Head coach Brian DeCarli said the number would have been more if the tournament awarded wrestlers within the top six, as several Balers were left just outside of medal status.
Nick Mendizabal went 3-2 at 160 pounds, and finished one match away from placing within the top four, while Tony Gatto fell one match short as well with a 3-2 record at 112 pounds.
Dominic Cortes went 2-2 and lost in the consolation quarterfinals at 135 pounds, and Robb Rodriguez was given a “tough draw” at 125 pounds, finishing with a 2-2 record.
Rodriguez won his first two matches before losing to Dylan Rocha of Lemoore — “a top-six guy in the state,” DeCarli said — by a 10-2 decision. Rodriguez then went to the consolation bracket, where he lost by a 1-0 decision.
At 130 pounds, Jay Garcia managed to find the top-four podium when he went 3-2 to take fourth place.
The Lemoore tournament was the final non-conference invitational for the Balers prior to opening Tri-County Athletic League action. San Benito will travel to Salinas on Wednesday to take on Palma at 6:30 p.m.
The majority of the wrestling team will then travel to Watsonville this weekend for the Apple Cider Classic, while Mikey Soto, Kenny Salcedo and Zack Rodriguez will compete at the Doc Buchanan Invitational in Clovis.
Coach DeLiddo Invitational (Top 10 Only)
1, Elk Grove, 250.5; 2, Lemoore, 234; 3, Clovis, 195; 4, Clovis West, 133; 5, San Benito, 123; 6, Orange Cove, 99; 7, Golden Valley, 89; 8, Dos Palos, 78; 9, Herman, 66; 10, Redwood, 65.
Individuals (San Benito Only)
103 — J. Espinosa, 0-2, DNP; 112 — T. Gatto, 3-2, DNP; 119 — N/A; 125 — R. Rodriguez, 2-2, DNP; 130 — J. Garcia 3-2, 4th; 135 — D. Cortes, 2-2, DNP; 140 — M. Soto, 5-1, 3rd; 145 — Z. Rodriguez, 3-1, 2nd; 152 — J. Arballo, 1-2, DNP; 160 — N. Mendizabal, 3-2, DNP; 171 — T. Castillo, 1-2, DNP; 189 — M. Martin del Campo, 5-1, 3rd; 215 — N. Angelo, 0-2, DNP; 285 — N/A.
