The El Cajon Invitational remains one of the most iconic regular season boys wrestling tournaments, attracting top teams from within the San Diego Section as well as top out-of-region and out-of-state teams. The event has returned to its pre-Christmas roots and serves as a great backdrop for individual and team rankings entering the mid-point of the season.
This year’s tournament took place Dec. 15-16 at Montgomery High School. Liberty (297 points) won the team title while Granite Hills (288.5) stood out as the top team within the San Diego Section.
The Eagles won last year’s Division II section championship — the school’s first CIF wrestling title after many close calls — en route to a ninth-place finish at the state championship meet with two state medalists. Head coach Jesse Sheard believes Granite Hills may be fielding its best-ever team this season.
Could be.
The Eagles recorded eight finalists, six weight class champions and 11 place-finishers (top eight) at last weekend’s ECI.
The El Cajon squad faced off the season by winning the team title over Brawley at the fourth annual Granite Hills Invitational on Dec. 2 and led section teams (third overall) at the ensuing Hamada Invitational Dec. 8-9 at La Costa Canyon.
Several grapplers have already notched lopsided records that are attracting attention.
Senior Collin Guffey improved to 16-0 after winning his 165-pound weight class at last weekend’s ECI. Guffey pinned Liberty junior Diesel Hanel (4-1) in 1:51 to keep his win-loss slate perfect on the season.
Senior Abram Cline improved to 15-0 after winning his 113-pound weight class by recording a 5-0 shutout win over Sahuarita sophomore Sebastian Serrano (24-5).
Senior Devon Wells improved to 15-1 after defeating Granite Hills junior Layronz Fraser (15-2) by medical forfeit at 144 pounds.
Senior Sergio Porras improved to 16-2 by capturing his 138-pound weight class with a 2:24 pin of Poway sophomore Carlos Valdiviezo (12-6).
Junior Ryan Carroll improved to 15-2 after winning his 157-pound weight class by recording an 8-2 decision over Liberty freshman Zandon Hopson (18-5).
Other Granite Hills wrestlers with meaningful records to start the season include sophomore 106-pounder Emilio Escobar (12-2) and junior 190-pounder Joseph Smith (11-5).
Also advancing to the awards stand at this year’s ECI were Granite Hills wrestlers Cooper Fields (fifth, 150 pounds), freshman Jovanni Mansour (sixth, 175 pounds) and sophomore Damian Arreola (eighth, 120 pounds).
Guffey (second place) and Cline (third place) made a statement at last year’s state tournament.
Many more Eagles are making statements this season.
Guffey and Porras both finished 5-0 at last weekend’s mat tourney with five pins while Carroll finished 5-0 with four pins.
Wells finished 5-0 with three pins and one technical fall while Escobar finished 5-0 with three pins.
Cline finished 4-0 with three pins while Fraser finished 4-1 with three pins and one technical fall.
Smith finished 4-1 with four pins while Cooper finished 4-2 with two pins.
Mansour finished 4-3 with three pins while Arreola finished 5-3 with one pin.
Freshman Cayden Phillips finished 3-2 with one pin at 157 pounds.
Southern exposure
Montgomery was the highest placing Metro Conference school in 11th place with 95.5 points, followed by Olympian in 17th place with 65 points. Southwest finished 22nd with 36 points while Mater Dei Catholic was 24th with 35 points. Castle Park was 26th with 34 points while Mar Vista was 33rd with 24 points. Eastlake was 36th with 18 points.
Montgomery had four place-finishers: Esteban Sanchez (first, 215 pounds), Jose Aspericueta (fourth, 157 pounds), Luis Mejia (sixth, 285 pounds) and Joel Maya (seventh, 190 pounds).
Olympian had one place-finisher: William Costa (sixth, 106 pounds).
Castle Park had one place-finisher: Gambino Martinez (fourth, 138 pounds).
Mater Dei Catholic had one place-finisher: Madden Poderick (eighth, 165 pounds).
Sanchez (11-0) finished 5-0 with four pins while Aspericueta (12-2) finished 4-2 with three pins.
Maya (11-3) finished 5-2 with one pin while Mejia opened the season 4-3 with four pins.
Poderick (14-5) finished 5-3 with four pins while Martinez finished 6-2 with four pins in his season debut. Costa (8-4) finished 4-3 with three pins.
East County round-up
Valhalla, which placed sixth as a team, had two finalists: senior Nathanial Anderson (second, 175 pounds) and junior Victor Gosswiller (second, 215 pounds).
The Norsemen also had four other place-finishers: freshman Uriah Hawkins (fifth, 120 pounds), sophomore Caden Spring (sixth, 113 pounds), Nona Marcelino (fifth, 165 pounds) and senior Alberto Perez (eighth, 285 pounds).
Anderson, who finished 4-1 and four pins, is 10-1 on the season while Gosswiller, who finished 4-1 with three pins, is 10-2.
Marcelino finished 6-2 over the two days with two pins while Hawkins finished 4-2.
West Hills had two place-finishers: senior Leylynd Mesina (fourth, 150 pounds) and Weston Druckerman (sixth, 157 pounds). Mesina finished 4-2 with three pins while Druckerman finished 4-3.
El Capitan junior George Spears (8-3) finished seventh at 138 pounds while El Cajon Valley senior Christian Carrera placed sixth at 215 pounds.
George finished 4-2 with three pins while Cabrera finished 4-3 with three pins.
El Capitan (84 points) placed 13th while West Hills (73 points) was 15th. Monte Vista (43 points) was 19th while El Cajon Valley (35.5 points) was 23rd. Steele Canyon (33 points) tied for 28th while Grossmont (32 points) was 30th.
Forty-two teams topped the entry list — 38 teams scored points. Mountain Empire (22 points) placed 35th while Santana (17 points).
51st El Cajon Invitational wrestling tournament results
106 Pounds
Championship: Emilio Escobar (Granite Hills) defeated Elias Briones (Poway) by 8-1 decision
Third place: Carson Miles (Liberty) defeated Maximilian Garibay (Perry) by 13-3 major decision
Fifth place: Alejandro Hernandez (Central Union) defeated William Costa (Olympian) by 2:27 pin
Seventh place: Abraham Villarreal (Calexico) defeated Nathan Frost (Perry) by 8-2 decision
113 Pounds
Championship: Abram Cline (Granite Hills) defeated Sebastian Serrano (Sahuarita) by 5-0 decision
Third place: Cash LaFlesch (Perry) defeated Armani Rodriguez (Poway) by 17-7 major decision
Fifth place: Gunner Ortiz (Liberty) defeated Caden Spring (Valhalla) by 15-0 technical fall (1:38)
Seventh place: Esteban Plasencia (St. Augustine) defeated Michael Bravo (Shadow Hills) by 2:53 pin
120 Pounds
Championship: Daniel Guerrero (Sahuarita) defeated Aaron Klein (Poway) by 9-3 decision
Third place: Roman Zelenka (Carlsbad) defeated Julian King (Liberty) by 3-2 decision
Fifth place: Uriah Hawkins (Valhalla) defeated Rex Fortenberry (Liberty) by injury default
Seventh place: David Garcia (Brawley) defeted Damian Arreola (Granite Hills) by injury default
126 Pounds
Championship: Thomas Storer (Poway) defeated Anthony Tamay (Brawley) by 3:43 pin
Third place: Rene Cordero (Poway) defeated Gavin Mitchell (Madison) by 3-2 decision
Fifth place: Ryder Fortenberry (Liberty) defeated A.J. Russell (Liberty) by injury default
Seventh place: Fernando Favela (Brawley) defeated Adis Wesson (Perry) by 13-3 major decision
132 Pounds
Championship: Jack Malinconico (Poway) defeated Caden Hanover (Poway) by 17-6 major decision
Third place: Diego Valdivievo (Poway) defeated Braeden Steele (St. Augustine) by 7-1 decision
Fifth place: Ferrin Goldstein (Perry) defetaed Joseph Pabustan (Liberty) by 1:46 pin
Seventh place: Riston Logan (Liberty) defeated Tiago Rael (Perry) by 7-5 decision
138 pounds
Championship: Sergio Porras (Granite Hills) defeated Carlos Valdiviezo (Poway) by 2:44 pin
Third place: Keegan Green (Liberty) defeated Gambino Martinez (Castle Park) by 12-1 major decision
Fifth place: Byron Cunningham (St. Augustine) defeated Izak Barragan (Imperial) by 11-0 major decision
Seventh place: George Spears (El Capitan) defeated Jeshua Camarena (Shadow Hills) by 4:35 pin
144 pounds
Championship: Devon Wells (Granite Hills) defeated Layronz Fraser (Granite Hills) by medical forfeit
Third place: Santiago Pacheco Jr. (Central Union) defeated Cameron Phipps (Perry) by 4:27 pin
Fifth place: Ryland Moss (Liberty) defeated Luis Martinez (Shadow Hills) by injury default
Seventh place: Valente Huerta (Imperial) defeated Jordan Rael (Sahuarita) by 6-2 decision
150 Pounds
Championship: Gabriel Gallardo (Sahuarita) defeated Nathaniel Gallardo (Sahuarita) by injury default
Third place: Felicito Nunez (Shadow Hills) defeated Lelynd Mesina (West Hills) by 2:52 pin
Fifth place: Cooper Fields (Granite Hills) defeated Damian Dale (Liberty) by 10-2 major decision
Seventh place: Carmine Martinez (Brawley) defeated Caden Brandon (Perry) by 7-2 decision
157 Pounds
Championship: Ryan Carroll (Granite Hills) defeated Zandon Hopson (Liberty) by 8-2 decision
Third place: Gunnar Neal (Poway) defeated Jose Aspericueta (Montgomery) by 2:47 pin
Fifth place: Harrison Koenig (Carlsbad) defeated Weston Druckerman (West Hills) by 14-0 major decision
Seventh place: Gabriel Garmen (Sahuarita) defeated Michael Crenshaw (Liberty) by 11-2 major decision
165 Pounds
Championship: Collin Guffey (Granite Hills) defeated Diesel Hanel (Liberty) by 1:51 pin
Third place: Jacob Rodgers (Liberty) defeated Kellen Valenzuela (Liberty) by 1:11 pin
Fifth place: Nona Marcelino (Valhalla) defeated Giancarlo Tolentino (Coastal Academy) by 4-2 decision
Seventh place: Jayden Kimling (Perry) defeated Madden Poderick (Mater Dei) by 4-1 decision
175 Pounds
Championship: Mitchell Wheeler (Liberty) defeated Nathanial Anderson (Valhalla) by 2:56 pin
Third place: Nathan Lauritzen (Perry) defeated Armani Acosta (Imperial) by 1:33 pin
Fifth place: Noah Sandlin (Poway) defeated Jovanni Mansour (Granite Hills) by 6-3 decision
Seventh place: William Thwaits (Sahuarita) defeated Jason Keizer (Orange Glenn) by 6-2 decision
190 Pounds
Championship: Ben Bomberger (Poway) defeated Joseph Smith (Granite Hills) by 1:22 pin
Third place: Jake Tsay (Poway) defeated Jacob Hamilton (Del Norte) by 2:05 pin
Fifth place: Hendrix Lynn (Scripps Ranch) defeated Keymon Holis (Sahuarita) by injury default
Seventh place: Joel Maya (Montgomery) defeated Danny Esquivez (Imperial High) by 14-7 decision
215 pounds
Championship: Esteban Sanchez (Montgomery) defeated Victor Gosswiller (Valhalla) by 6-2 decision
Third place: Maddux Botma (Liberty) defeated Robert Grohman (St. Augustine) by 1:29 pin
Fifth place: Ethan Austin (Perry) defeated Christian Carrera (El Cajon Valley) by 4:13 pin
Seventh place: Isaiah Aguirre (Central Union) defeated Marlon Sanchez (Calexico) by 4:31 pin
285 Pounds
Championship: Braidi Glascock (Perry) defeated Diego Hernandez (Central Union) by 5-1 decision
Third place: Ryan Stadtherr (Scripps Ranch) defeated Luke Spires (Liberty) by 1:41 pin
Fifth place: Ethan Nguyen (St. Augustine) defeated Lius Mejia (Montgomery) by 2:18 pin
Seventh place: Manny Quinteo (Shadow Hills) defeated Alberto Perez (Valhalla) by medical forfeit
Mar Vista Battle by the Beach wrestling tournament results
106 Pounds
Championship: Alejandro Gurrola (Mar Vista) pinned William Costa (Olympian) 3:14
Third place: Cole Rivera (Hilltop) pinned Gilbert Wysoczanki (Mater Dei Catholic) 1:22
Fifth place: Lucas Michelsen (Catherdral Catholic) and Lathan Briscoe (San Diego), default
113 Pounds
Championship: Ayers Reich (Cathedral Catholic) pinned Jaden Luevano (Clairemont) 0:52
Third place: Preston Espinoza (Olympian) pinned David Munoz (Southwest) 4:57
Fifth place: Armando Nunez (Sweetwater) and Zane Harvey (El Capitan), default
120 Pounds
Championship: Justin Bernardo (Hilltop) defeated Alejandro Sarabia (Olympian) by 17-3 major decision
Third place: Adrian Morales (Mater Dei Catholic) defeated Jovanni Rios (Southwest) by 15-7 major decision
Fifth place: Lillian Kohler (El Capitan A) and Caleb Banda (Montgomery), default
126 Pounds
Championship: Jonas Espinoza (Southwest) defeated Abel Ibarra (Olympian) by 5-3 decision
Third place: Jayden Ponce (San Diego) defeated Brandon Bowers (Santana) by 7-4 decision
Fifth place: Chris DiCroce (Santana) and Tyler Campbell (Cathedral Catholic), default
132 Pounds
Championship: Riley Jones (El Capitan A) pinned John Laester (Clairemont) :20
Third place: Ian Ramos (Olympian) pinned Evan Rodriguez (Cathedral Catholic) 1:40
Fifth place: Oswaldo Pina (Chula Vista) and Maksym Siwy (Clairemont), default
138 Pounds
Championship: Tanner Smith (Cathedral Catholic) pinned Aaron Marcial (Mar Vista) 5:26
Third place: George Spears (El Capitan A) pinned Michael Gooden (Olympian) 4:03
Fifth place: Diego Villa (Southwest) and Emiliano Sosa (Cathedral Catholic), default
144 Pounds
Championship: Justin Ayala (Southwest) defeated Alan jean (Montgomery) by 12-3 decision
Third place: Paul Alvarez (Chula Vista) defeated Hunter Wittman (Cathedral Catholic) by 8-4 decision
Fifth place: Nathaniel Sagun (Olympian) and Terrence Cao (Canyon Crest Academy), default
150 Pounds
Championship: Gerardo Ruiz (Southwest) defeated Alex Campos (Clairemont) by 12-6 decision
Third place: Issack Cordero (Southwest) defeated Hamza Salih (Santana) by 7-1 decision
Fifth place: Joshua Rosson (El Capitan A) and James Johnson (Cathedral Catholic), default
157 Pounds
Championship: Andres Gonzales (Olympian) pinned Ty Pope (Mt. Miguel) 1:33
Third place: Parker Birchmeier (Clairemont) won by no contest over Keagan Carman (Canyon Crest Academy)
Fifth place: Evan Ortega (El Capitan A) and Julio Martinez (Southwest), default
165 Pounds
Championship: Emilio Surposa-Buendia (Castle Park) defeated Madden Poderick (Mater Dei Catholic) by 5-2 decision
Third place: Charles Welsh (El Capitan A) pinned Ricardo De La Torre (Hilltop) 1:18
Fifth place: Eduardo Cilio (Lincoln) and Jakob Frijas (Olympian), default
175 Pounds
Championship: John Reyna (Chula Vista) pinned Tai Ngo (Hoover) 5:26
Third place: Miguel Ortega (San Ysidro) won by no contest over Aiden Diaz (Olympian)
Fifth place: Justin Hildebran (El Capitan A) and Adrian Samaniego (Castle Park), default
190 Pounds
Championship: Sean Magtoto (Cathedral Catholic) pinned Ke’Andre Davis (Chula Vista) 5:40
Third place: Gavin Clark (Santana) pinned Aaron Altamirano (El Capitan A) 2:00
Fifth place: Librado Cruz (Lincoln) and Marlon Ames (El Capitan B), default
215 Pounds
Championship: Caiman Garcia (Southwest) defeated Eduardo Reyes (Montgomery) by injury default
Third place: Joel Maya (Montgomery) pinned Diego Gastelum (Olympian) 2:34
Fifth place: Ridley Keener (El Capitan A) and Luca Salcedo (Southwest), default
285 Pounds
Championship: Alejandro Scolari (Chula Vista) pinned Dawson Snyder (El Capitan A) 3:36
Third place: Alfred Bennett (Lincoln) pinned Nicolas Quintal (San Ysidro) 0:43
Fifth place: Adrien Figueroa (San Ysidro) and Julian Avalos (Montgomery), default
Team standings
1. Olympian 243
2. El Capitan A 203
3. Cathedral Catholic 188
4. Southwest 187
5. Chula Vista 135.5
6. Clairemont 106
7. Montgomery 92
8. Hilltop 84
9. Santana 82.5
10. Mater Dei Catholic 73
Others: 11. San Ysidro 69; 12. El Capitan B 68’ 13. Mar Vista 67; 14. Castle Park 64; 15. San Diego 60; 16. Mt. Miguel 52; 17. Lincoln 50; 18. Canyon Crest Academy 40; 19. Hoover 38; 20. Sweetwater 25
