The 2021-22 high school wrestling season is fast coming to a close. The Metro Conference girls championship tournament is scheduled this Friday at Montgomery High School. The Metro Conference boys championship tournament follows Feb. 4 at Mar Vista High School.
League dual meet champions also need to be determined before the San Diego Section divisional finals take place.
In fact, the postseason appears exceptionally busy this season as more of a traditional format returns.
The girls wrestling divisionals will once again consist of two tournaments, followed by a state-qualifying Masters event.
The boys wrestling divisionals will feature four tournaments, followed by the state-qualifying Masters tournament.
Both boys and girls wrestlers will compete alongside each other as the state championship tournament returns to the schedule.
Hilltop High School improved to 4-0 in South Bay League dual meets following its 48-12 victory against visiting Southwest on Jan. 20. The Lancers have two league dual meets remaining on their schedule, including a make-up meet against Sweetwater.
Hilltop has already scored dual meet wins against Chula Vista, Montgomery, Castle Park and most recently against the Raiders.
The Lancers are having a decent season after competing in weekend tournaments around the section. However, the team has suffered a numbers decline in recent weeks. Program coach Thomas Juarez said the boys program started with 35 boys and is now down to 20 while the girls program started with 16 and is now down to nine.
But those who remain will be battling to become champions.
“We have a really good connect with the kids,” Juarez said. “They want to learn.”
Hilltop placed third in its own boys varsity team tournament held Jan. 8 on campus. Eastlake captured first place in the 10-team event with a 5-0 dual record, followed by Patrick Henry in second place with a 4-1 dual record. The Lancers also posted a 4-1 dual record, followed by Otay Ranch in the team standings.
Sergio Porras finished with the gold medal at 138 pounds while Joaquin Angulo (108 pounds), Carlos Mendez (172 pounds), Justin Bernardo (122 pounds), Frankie Mendoza (162 pounds) and Noah Heredia (113 pounds) all finished with silver medals. Jimmy Lopez finished with a bronze medal at 197 pounds.
Juarez listed Porras, Angulo, Mendoza, Mendez, Bernardo and Heredia as top contenders on the team to score medals at the upcoming Division III finals.
Mendez and Mendoza are seniors while Bernardo and Porras are sophomores.
CIF hopefuls for girls postseason competition include Jo-Marie Aguilera (103 pounds), Samantha Velazquez (128 pounds), Isabelle Meza (145 pounds) and Isabelle Metzig (118 pounds).
Girl power
Friday’s conference girls championship tournament starts at 3 p.m. More than 70 girls are expected to compete from 10 schools. Mater Dei Catholic, San Ysidro and Southwest will not be participating.
The girls section tournaments are scheduled to take place Feb. 5. The Division I tournament is slated for San Pasqual High School while Brawley High School will host the Division II finals.
Each tournament will include 16-person draws, with the top four place-finishers in each tournament receiving medals. Competition is slated to start at 9 a.m. Finals are projected to start at 5 p.m. or later.
Awards will be presented to the team champion and runner-up in each division.
Metro Conference teams eligible to compete at the Division I tournament include Eastlake, Sweetwater, San Ysidro, Otay Ranch, Olympian and Chula Vista high schools. Local teams eligible to compete at the Division II tournament include Hilltop, Montgomery. Southwest, Castle Park and Mar Vista.
The girls Master meet is scheduled Feb. 11 at Alliant International University. The top four place-finishers from both the Division I and Division II tournaments qualify. Competition is slated to start at 1 p.m. with finals and consolation rounds following at 5 and 6 p.m.
The top four wrestlers in each weight class will receive medals while the top three place-finishers in each weight class will advance to the state tournament.
The state tournament is a three-day event from Feb. 24-26 in Bakersfield.
CIF finals
Divisional boys tournaments are scheduled to take place Feb. 12 at four sites. Rancho Bernardo High School will host the Division I tournament while Poway High School will host the Division II tournament. Ramona will host the Division III tournament while Valley Center will host the Division IV tournament.
Each tournament will include 16-man brackets.
The top seven place-finishers at the Division I and Division II tournaments will receive medals while the top six wrestlers at the Division III tournament will receive medals. The top four place-winners at the Division IV tournament will receive medals.
Division I eligible teams include Chula Vista, Eastlake, Otay Ranch and Sweetwater high schools. Division II eligible teams include Bonita Vista, Olympian and San Ysidro high schools. Division III eligible teams include Castle Park, Hilltop, Montgomery and Southwest high schools. Division IV eligible teams include High Tech High Chula Vista, Mar Vista and Mater Dei Catholic high schools.
Divisional tournaments are projected to start at 9 p.m. with finals starting at 5 p.m. or earlier.
The Masters state-qualifying tournament is set Feb. 18-19 at Christian High School in El Cajon.
The tournament is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. on both days. Finals are scheduled to start at 1:15 p.m. or earlier on the second day.
Awards will be presented to the top four individual place-finishers as well as awards to the champion and runner-up teams.
Wrestling calendar
- Holtville Rotary Invitational: Jan. 29 at Holtville High School
- Escondido varsity invitational: Jan. 29 at Escondido High School
- San Diego County JV Invitational: Jan. 29 at Mt. Carmel High School
- Robert Jenkins Memorial Invitational: Feb. 5 at Mount Miguel High School
- El Cajon Valley JV Invitational: Feb. 5 at El Cajon Valley High School
- San Diego County Freshman Invitational: Feb. 5 at Mt. Carmel High School
