Despite a depleted lineup that forced them to stay closer to
home, the San Benito Haybalers managed to post a sixth-place finish
at the Apple Cider Invitational last weekend in Watsonville behind
high-scoring efforts from Junior Davila, Edgar Ortega and varsity
newcomer Eric Henry.
WATSONVILLE
Despite a depleted lineup that forced them to stay closer to home, the San Benito Haybalers managed to post a sixth-place finish at the Apple Cider Invitational last weekend in Watsonville behind high-scoring efforts from Junior Davila, Edgar Ortega and varsity newcomer Eric Henry.
San Benito compiled 122 points during Saturday’s individually-bracketed tournament, and finished behind Sonora (125), Aptos (146.5), Alhambra (147.5), Palo Alto (152) and champion Turlock (170.5).
There were 31 teams present.
Friday’s action included a dual-meet tournament, though, where the Balers claimed a 3-1 record and finished in second place. San Benito defeated Pajaro Valley, Salinas and Leland before falling in the championship to Aptos by a 45-32 margin.
The performance on Friday and Saturday was a pleasant surprise for head coach Brian DeCarli, whose team has been rattled with injuries and illness of late. In fact, six varsity wrestlers were out of the lineup last weekend, forcing San Benito to compete in the Watsonville invitational and not the Big Valley Wrestling Classic in Stockton, where the Balers were originally scheduled to compete.
“We had kids hurt and sick, so we pulled out of Big Valley,” DeCarli said. “We were just looking for some mat time.”
The team’s lacking lineup allowed a handful of matmen to compete at the varsity level and gain much-needed experience, including Henry at 140 pounds.
Opening the bracket with a 9-0 major decision, Henry followed with victories by fall, major decision and fall to advance to the 140-pound final.
He was narrowly defeated by North Monterey County’s Chase Norman, who won by a 13-12 decision. Henry finished in second place.
“For some of these kids, they got a taste of a varsity tournament,” DeCarli said. “A lot of the kids just got some good confidence.”
The “highlight of the tournament” came at 125 pounds, though. San Benito’s Junior Davila won four straight matches by fall to advance to the final against Turlock’s Fabian Garcia, who garnered a fourth-place finish at 119 pounds in the state last year, DeCarli said.
Garcia is currently ranked third in the state, the coach added.
But despite the rankings, Davila held a 7-4 lead at one point in the third period. The San Benito senior fell behind late, though, and needed an escape in the final 10 seconds of the match to force overtime.
Davila couldn’t pull out the one-point maneuver, however, and narrowly lost to Garcia, 10-9.
Davila was awarded the tournament’s sportsmanship award.
“The silver lining was that this was a really valuable weekend for all the kids,” DeCarli said.
Other notable performances included Edgar Ortega, who went 5-1 to finish in third at 135 pounds; Tim Christenson, who finished fourth at 145 pounds after going 4-2; Miguel Martin del Campo, who wrestled at 189 pounds and compiled a 4-2 record to finish fifth; and heavyweight Adam Davis, who was named consolation champion after posting a 4-1 record.
San Benito, which defeated North Salinas last Wednesday by a 45-30 margin in Tri-County Athletic League play, will return to league action on Wednesday when it visits Alisal at 6:30 p.m.
DeCarli said he is expecting a “barnburner” with the Trojans, who defeated Palma in a recent dual meet.
Apple Cider Invitational
TEAM (TOP 10 ONLY)
1, Turlock, 170.5; 2, Palo Alto, 152; 3, Alhambra, 147.5; 4, Aptos, 146.5; 5, Sonora, 125; 6, San Benito, 122; 7, North Monterey County, 112.5; 8, Alisal, 97; 9, Harbor, 89; 10, Overfelt, 88.5.
INDIVIDUAL
103 — N/A.
112 — Christian Baldwin, 0-2, DNP.
119 — Robb Rodriguez, 0-2, DNP.
125 — Junior Davila, 4-1, 2nd.
130 — N/A.
135 — Edgar Ortega, 5-1, 3rd.
140 — Eric Henry, 4-1, 2nd.
145 — Tim Christenson, 4-2, 4th.
152 — John Barajas, 0-2, DNP.
160 — Timothy Castillo, 1-2, DNP.
171 — Jacob Rea, 0-2, DNP.
189 — Miguel Martin del Campo, 4-2, 5th.
215 — Nick Angelo, 0-2, DNP.
285 — Adam Davis, 4-1, Consolation Champion.
