Eagles soar to third consecutive Metro Conference wrestling team title

02/07/2019

web.OHS_champs_3930 — Olympian High School recorded five individual champions at last weekend's Metro Conference championship tournament. Photo by Phillip Brents

The Olympian High School wrestling team captured its third consecutive Metro Conference team title by out-pointing the 13-team field at last Saturday’s championship tournament at San Ysidro High School.

The Eagles recorded the top team score of 254.5 points to finish ahead of runner-up Bonita Vista, which scored 184.5 points.

As a point of reference, Mater Dei Catholic finished third with 108 points, followed by Hilltop in fourth place with 84.5 points.

Olympian advanced 10 wrestlers to the championship round, winning five individual gold medals.

“I enjoy watching them wrestle,” OHS head coach Myron Griffin explained. “Every one has developed their own style. It’s nice to see them flourish on their own.

“They also definitely work together as a unit, support each other, encourage each other. They definitely love each other. It’s a good team.”

Olympian’s individual weight class champions included Zachary Ikaika Ramos (108 pounds), Mico Gonzalez (140), Tyshawn Anderson (162), John Johnson (184) and Luis Castro (287).

Castro improved to 29-3 with 28 pins after pinning Bonita Vista’s Alex Alcala in 5:04. However, the Olympian mat man had to battle back from an early 3-1 deficit to record what was a come-back victory.

“My coaches have prepared me to keep cool and keep pushing through when things aren’t going my way,” explained Castro, who earned the tournament’s outstanding upper weight award. “You learn to push through when in distress. We practice overtime and pushing through all the time.”

Castro enters postseason competition ranked second among San Diego Section heavyweights. The top four wrestlers at the upcoming San Diego Masters tournament qualify to compete at the state championship tournament later in the month in Bakersfield.

“Being ranked has its trials,” Castro admitted. “You have a target on your back. I expect more from myself. I need to keep pushing, and that will make me a better wrestler.”

Castro had two pins in the tournament, including a 13-second pin in the semifinals.

Mar Vista’s Roy Figueroa received the tournament’s outstanding lower weight award after recording three pins and a 13-4 major decision in four matches.

Figueroa defeated Olympian’s Ryan Magsino in the 128-pound finals.

Bonita Vista High School posted a second-place team finish at last weekend’s conference championship tournament. Photo by Phillip Brents

Bonita Vista made a statement by advancing six wrestlers to the championship round, winning three individual weight class titles: Tyler Krecklow (147), Daniel Reyes (154) and Michael Miller (222).

Mater Dei Catholic represented itself well on the mat with three weight class champions: Nicolas Demers (115), Anthony Ching (134) and Christian Silva (172).

Other conference weight class champions included San Ysidro’s Israel Ramirez (122) and Montgomery’s Jose Sanchez (197).

Mater Dei Catholic’s Nicolas Demers defeated Hilltop’s marc Nunez to win the 115-pound individual championship. Photo by Phillip Brents

CIF mat attack
Olympian will compete at Saturday’s San Diego Section Division I championship tournament with the aim of securing its first team championship. The Eagles finished runner-up to San Marcos at last year’s finals.

Rancho Bernardo may be the team to beat, or could it be Olympian this year? The Eagles will host the event, so home field advantage could play a role in the outcome.

“We’re looking good,” Griffin said. “Everyone is at their weight. We believe we have a chance at beating RB if we get some good draws in the seeding.”

The Division I tournament will showcase six South County mat programs: Eastlake, Sweetwater, Bonita Vista, Olympian, Otay Ranch and San Ysidro.

Montgomery High School will host the Division III tournament. Mar Vista, Southwest and Castle Park will compete alongside the host Aztecs to highlight the local entrants in the 19-team field.

Hilltop and Chula Vista will compete in the Division II tournament at Fallbrook High School while Mater Dei Catholic, High Tech High Chula Vista and Chula Vista Learning Community Charter will compete in the Division IV tournament at St. Augustine High School.

All divisionals start at 9 a.m., with finals scheduled to start at 5 p.m. or later.

The top seven place-finishers in each of the Division I and Division II tournaments, the top six place-finishers in the Division III tournament and the top four place-finishers in the Division IV tournament advance to the San Diego Section Masters state-qualifying tournament Feb. 15-16 at San Marcos High School.