The high school wrestling season is gearing up for a fast finish as the 2015-16 season has been compacted to accommodate regular season tournaments, conference championships and both the San Diego Section dual and tournament championship events.
Last Saturday’s 22-team Monte Vista Invitational showcased many of the section’s mid-level teams, including Bonita Vista, Mar Vista, Montgomery and Mater Dei Catholic from the Metro Conference.
Several South County wrestlers look to be making some noise in post-season competition based on last weekend’s results.
Mar Vista junior Christian Winnie captured his 106-pound division while the Montgomery tandem of Andrew Villagomez and Chase Riegg recorded runner-up finishes in their weight classes.
Riegg, a junior, finished second at 195 pounds while Villagomez, a sophomore, finished second at 220 pounds.
For Winnie, the weight class championship was his second in consecutive weeks after previously emerging on top of his division at the San Ysidro tournament. Winnie opened the season by advancing to the finals of the Battle by the Beach tournament held Dec. 5 at Mar Vista High School.
With three regular season tournament championship-round appearances to his credit, Winnie ranks as one of the conference’s most decorated wrestlers during the 2015-16 campaign.
His focus is on the future.
“Make it to state and win CIF,” Winnie proudly noted about his season goals.
The Mariner grappler finished second at last year’s Division III finals and is looking to move up to the top spot this year.
Winnie, who improved his season record to 16-7, recorded three pins and a default win to claim his latest gold medal.
The lightweight wrestler is agile and quick on his feet and ready to strike whenever the opportunity presents itself, which is exactly what happened in the championship match at the Monte Vista Invitational.
“I’m more of a defensive wrestler — I like to wait for an error and capitalize on it,” he said.
Winnie is also serving as a role model for his younger brother Julian, a freshman on the MVHS squad. Ironically, Julian lost to the same wrestler from Mira Mesa whom Christian pinned in the championship match.
“It’s fun beating up on him in practice,” Christian explained. “I hope he gets better and beats me someday.”
The siblings encountered a breakthrough moment at the San Ysidro tournament when Julian placed second at 106 pounds and Christian won the 113-pound title.
“It was pretty exciting,” Julian noted.
Aztec warriors
Riegg entered the Monte Vista tournament after winning the 195-pound title at the San Ysidro tournament the previous week while Villagomez finished third in his weight class at the San Ysidro tournament.
Riegg (15-4) advanced to the championship round of the Monte Vista tournament by virtue of a pin (quarterfinals) and major decision (semifinals) to face top-seeded Geraldo Jaime of Steele Canyon. The pair’s final match went back and forth before Jaime captured a win by decision.
Villagomez (12-6) won by decision in the quarterfinals and by technical fall in the semifinals to meet top-seeded Kevin Ah Key of West Hills for the weight class title. Ah Key won by pin.
“They keep fighting as best they can on the mat,” Montgomery head coach David Jarumayan explained. “They don’t give up. They practice together. It’s competitive.”
Riegg opened the season with a second-place finish at the Battle by the Beach tournament.
Montgomery, which led the Metro Conference contingent at the Monte Vista tournament with a 10th place team finish, is seeking renewed fortunes this season in the South Bay League after opening the season 4-0 in dual meet competition, including 3-0 in league. The Aztecs entered Thursday’s key match-up against visiting San Ysidro after previously defeating Bonita Vista, Mar Vista, Chula Vista and Castle Park.
Mat attack
Three Mater Dei Catholic wrestlers captured fourth-place finishes at the 2016 Monte Vista tournament: Cade Congdon (152 pounds), Ricardo Carrillo (170 pounds) and Steven Bradley (285 pounds).
Mater Dei Catholic heavyweight Tyler Buenviaje finished fifth.
Mar Vista finished 14th in the team standings, followed by Mater Dei Catholic in 16th place and Bonita Vista in 19th place.
Bonita Vista coach Esteban Baez said his team is seeking to lay a foundation on which to build.
“This year we’re starting off fresh, a lot of freshmen, new beginnings,” Baez explained. “This is the year we’re building a foundation for next year.”
Heavyweight George Harlan has been a standout this season for the Barons with a sixth-place finish at the Jimmy Hamada La Costa Canyon Classic and an eighth-place finish at the El Cajon Invitational, both in December.
“He’s going to be someone to contend with this year at CIF and Masters,” Baez noted.
East County mat men excel at Monte Vista wrestling tournament
Neither Monte Vista High School’s Richard San Nicolas Jr. nor West Hills High School’s Nicholas Rivinius had ever captured an individual varsity weight class championship, yet alone earn an outstanding wrestler award, prior to last Saturday’s Monte Vista Invitational.
But both wrestlers are now sporting smiles – and some gleaming hardware – after recording their first varsity tournament victories.
Rivinius, a junior, finished with three pins in his 160-pound weight class to capture the tournament’s outstanding middle weight award.
San Nicolas, a junior, also recorded three falls to win his 182-pound weight class and, in the process, earned accolades as the tournament’s outstanding heavy weight wrestler.
“It feels outstanding – it’s my first varsity championship,” explained Rivinius, one of three tourney finalists for the third-place Wolf Pack. “I’ve never been recognized before. This validates all the hard work I’ve put in.”
San Nicolas echoed those sentiments.
“I’m very honored to receive the award, it’s outstanding,” the Monarch grappler said. “My philosophy on the mat is to never give up. I’m always watching for my opponent to make a mistake.”
Both Rivinius (12-6) and San Nicolas (14-5) were seeded second in their weight classes but pinned top-seeded wrestlers to win their divisions.
Overall, last Saturday’s 22-team tournament was a showcase for East County mat teams.
Helix, braced by 10 wrestlers who placed fifth or higher in their respective weight classes, led the eight participating Grossmont Conference teams with a second place finish. The Scotties, who scored 193 points, had two individual finalists: Sal Carrillo (138 pounds) and Greg Landeros (145 pounds).
Third place West Hills (185 points) also had eight wrestlers place fifth or higher in their weight divisions. Kevin Ah Key joined Rivinius on the championship awards stand after winning his 220-pound weight class with three pins while Austin Dill (126 pounds) placed runner-up in his weight class with two pins.
Mt. Miguel placed fourth in the team standings with 157 points. The Matadors had four finalists and eight wrestlers who placed fifth or higher in their respective weight classes. Champions included Manuel Cano (120 pounds) and Juan Ruiz (152 pounds) while Jourie Bazile (160 pounds) and Jerusalem Tausaga (285 pounds) both finished second.
Tournament host Monte Vista finished fifth in the team standings with 143.5 points. The Monarchs finished with two individual weight class champions among eight place-finishers (fifth or higher). Heavyweight Alan Elia joined San Nicolas at the top of the award stand after winning his 285-pound division.
Steele Canyon placed fifth with 133 points. The Cougars had five mat men place fifth or higher and left the gym with two weight class champions: David Lipscomb (145 pounds) and Geraldo Jaime (195 pounds).
Grossmont finished 11th in the team standings with 63 points. The Foothillers recorded two individual second-place finishers: Gilbert Dominguez (113 pounds) and Nick Gosgn (182 pounds).
El Cajon Valley (15th place with 52 points) had one wrestler finish second in his weight class — Nicholas Poliza at 132 pounds — while Santana (20th place with 21 points) finished with one medalist.
Mira Mesa won the tournament team title with 220 points. The Marauders stacked the award stand with 11 medalists, including four finalists and three weight class champions.
Mira Mesa 113-pounder Brandon Resgaitis was named the tournament’s outstanding lower weight wrestler after recording three pins and a major decision.
Seven East County wrestlers battled back through the consolation rounds to earn third-place medals: Helix’s Spencer Pham (113 pounds), Monte Vista’s Andres Lopez (120 pounds), Helix’s Oscar Sanchez (126 pounds), Monte Vista’s Ivan Tirado (138 pounds), West Hills’ Diego Sanchez (182 pounds), Monte Vista’s Jose Gonzalez (195 pounds) and West Hills’ Zach Weaver (285 pounds).
Seven other Grossmont Conference grapplers finished fourth: Steele Canyon’s Anthony Lopez (106 pounds) and Darian Murphy (113 pounds), Helix’s Jonathan Honda (120 pounds), Mt. Miguel’s Dejon Huff (132 pounds), Helix’s Manuel Matarino (138 pounds) and Damian Rodriguez (160 pounds) and Monte Vista’s Blake Schmidt (220 pounds).
Mat attack
Monte Vista recorded a runner-up finish at the preceding week’s San Ysidro varsity tournament. The Monarchs had four grapplers reach the finals. Elia won his heavyweight division while Lopez, Tirado and San Nicolas each finished second in their weights.
El Camino won the team title by 13.5 points.
“We’re maturing into a tournament team but we’re a better dual meet team than a tournament team at this point of the season,” Monte Vista coach Mat Simone explained.
The Monarchs are 4-1 in dual meet competition to start the 2015-16 season, including 2-0 in league following wins over Granite Hills (42-34) and Grossmont (60-15).
Monte Vista hosts Valhalla on Jan. 28 and Helix on Feb. 4. Varsity action is slated for 6:30 p.m. starts in both matches.
West Hills is off to a 4-0 start in dual meet competition with victories against Grossmont, Serra, Mt. Miguel and Steele Canyon.
“This is one of the more solid teams we’ve had,” Rivinius said. “We’re really good at taking it to the third period.”
NINTH ANNUAL SAN YSIDRO VARSITY WRESTLING TOURNAMENT
Jan. 9 at San Ysidro High School
106 Pounds
1. Tyler Shipley (Clairemont), 2. Julian Winnie (Mar Vista), 3. Kain Smith (Monte Vista), 4. Zachary Ehrlich (San Diego), 5. Cade Harbin (Olympian), 6. David Lichtenstein (El Camino)
113 Pounds
1. Christian Winnie (Mar Vista), 2. Jaden Doan (El Camino), 3. Tomas Ronge (Point Loma), 4. Renz Casiano (Olympian), 5. Juan Castro (San Ysidro), 6. Christopher Cua (San Diego)
120 Pounds
1. Ethan Ramos (Olympian), 2. Andres Lopez (Monte Vista), 3. Jesus Gavaldon (Eastlake), 4. Clarence Lightfoot (Oceanside), 5. Camille Baaklini (Mar Vista), 6. Alfonso Rodriguez (Mission Bay)
126 Pounds
1. Jonas Ullsperger (Mater Dei Catholic), 2. Ethan Deguzman (Olympian), 3. Draven Cabrera (Central Union), 4. Sean McDowell (Canyon Crest Academy), 5. Caleb McMahan (El Camino), 6. Enrique Diaz (Mar Vista)
132 Pounds
1. Nicholas Poliza (El Cajon Valley), 2. Christian Paquian-Macias (Mater Dei Catholic), 3. Anthony Carrillo (Canyon Crest Academy), 4. Joshua Auditor (Eastlake), 5. Cristian DeGuire (Olympian), 6. Christian Marquez (Point Loma)
138 Pounds
1. Isziaih Flores (Oceanside), 2. Ivan Tirado (Monte Vista), 3. Malachi Chavira (El Camino), 4. Jahi Veasey (Morse), 5. Luciano Parra (Olympian), 6. Brian Rodriguez (Montgomery)
145 Pounds
1. Richard Dixon (El Camino), 2. Adrian Lopez (Montgomery), 3. Brenden Gregorio (Olympian), 4. Jordan Smith (Oceanside), 5. Gabriel Buccat (El Camino), 6. Jakob Balderas (San Ysidro)
152 Pounds
1. Adrian Ortiz (Clairemont), 2. Cade Congdon (Mater Dei Catholic), 3. Armando Castro (Eastlake), 4. Nathan Lucio (El Camino), 5. Joshua Eikamp (San Ysidro), 6. Abraham Peña (Olympian)
160 Pounds
1. Pablo Perez (San Ysidro), 2. Royce Casiano (Olympian), 3. Drew Clark (El Camino), 4. Jesse Flores (Monte Vista), 5. Cariso DelRegno (El Camino), 6. Apollos Hartin (El Cajon Valley)
170 Pounds
1. Drake Taylor (Canyon Crest Academy), 2. Greyson Olep (Canyon Crest Academy), 3. Josue Guerrero (Clairemont), 4. Victor Icu (Monte Vista), 5. Jacob Obergfell (El Camino), 6. Gilberto Robles (Southwest)
182 Pounds
1. Devin Settles (El Camino), 2. Richard San Nicolas Jr. (Monte Vista), 3. Billy Betancourt (Oceanside), 4. Austin Waterhouse (Point Loma), 5. Ricardo Carrillo (Mater Dei Catholic), 6. Oscar Luna (Southwest)
195 Pounds
1. Chase Riegg (Montgomery), 2. Caleb Loomis (Sage Creek), 3. Jorge Herrera (San Ysidro), 4. Eduardo Santiago (San Ysidro), 5. Jose Gonzalez (Monte Vista), 6. Anthony Douglas (Oceanside)
220 Pounds
1. Arath Rodriguez (San Ysidro), 2. Michael Zundel (Oceanside), 3. Andrew Villagomez (Montgomery), 4. Elijah Moore-Flohs (Monte Vista), 5. Luis Castro (Olympian), 6. Brad Stukas (Sage Creek)
285 Pounds
1. Alan Elia (Monte Vista), 2. Arthur Daniels (Point Loma), 3. Emilio Gomez (Eastlake), 4. Caleb Strachan (Sage Creek), 5. Nik Parker (El Camino), 6. Steven Bradley (Mater Dei Catholic)
Team Points
1. El Camino 192.5, 2. Monte Vista 179, 3. Olympian 74.5, 4. San Ysidro 146, 5. Oceanside 128, 6. Mater Dei Ctholic 96.5, 7. (tie) Montgomery, Point Loma 95, 9. Eastlake 93.5, 10. Clairemont 86, 11. Mar Vista 75, 12. Canyon Crest Academy 72.5, 13. Sage Creek 59, 4. El Cajon Valley 52, 15. Mission Bay 46, 16. San Diego 37, 17. Central Union 28, 18. Southwest 26, 19. Morse 22.5
JIM LONDOS MEMORIAL WRESTLING TOURNAMENT
Jan. 9 at Orange Glen High School
Top Individuals
106: 1. Joseph Meier (Brawley),?2. Marcus Tucker (Helix), 3. Raymond Felix (Escondido),?4. Tai Tran-Howe (Westview),?5. Joseph Cabanilla (Mt. Carmel),?6. Ruben Ramos (Mission Hills)
113: 1. Ryan Ritchey (Westview),?2. Charles Hanson (Rancho Bernardo),?3. Paul Crampton (Eastlake),?4. Bren Pinedo (Brawley), 5. Jared Stoneking (Orange Glen), 6. Ethan Hernandez (Holtville)
120: 1. Jordan Massie (Poway),?2. Benjamin Martinez (Eastlake),?4. Jonathan Honda (Helix),?4. Spencer Pham (Helix),?5, Noah Martinez (Del Norte), 6. Luis Bravo (Brawley)
126: 1. Jonathan Dain (Poway),?2. Alexander Sanchez (Carlsbad),?3. Michael Garcia (Valley Center),?4. Sergio Juarez (Orange Glen),?5. James Kegler (University City), 6. Brennan Cloes (Mt. Carmel)
132: 1. Adrian Charbono (Rancho Bernardo),?2. Calvin Naraghi (Poway),?3. Robert Guevara (Del Norte), 4. Shehadeh Mitwalli (Carlsbad),?6. Climaco Morales (Valley Center), 6. Oscar Sanchez (Helix)
138: 1. Victor Gonzalez (Brawley), 2. Owen Weisel (Carlsbad), 3. Leon Liu (Rancho Bernardo), 4. Justin Massie (Poway), 6. Guillermo Juarez (Fallbrook), 6. Manuel Maturino (Helix)
145: 1. Charles Franchina of (Rancho Bernardo), 2. Brenden Shaffer (Poway), 3. Doug Watkins (Escondido), 4. Salvador Carrillo (Helix), 5. Dakota Freaner (Guajome Park), 6. Charlie Valdivia (Brawley)
152: 1. Gilbert Carrillo (Brawley), 2. Anthony Leonard (Westview), 3. Cameron Gritz (El Capitan), 4. Robert Boyer (Poway), 6. Austin Abad (Escondido), 6. Michael Johnson (Eastlake)
160: 1. Brock Moffit (Valley Center), 2. Benjamin Gonzalez (Helix), 4. David Scrivnor (Poway), 4. John Sanchez (Carlsbad), 6. Seth Mona (West Hills), 6. Carlos Vazquez (Eastlake)
170: 1. Alejandro Rizo (Mission Hills), 2. Hampton Boyd (Poway), 3. Sebastian Smith (Westview), 4. Godfrey Lozada (Rancho Bernardo), 5. Luis Chavez (Brawley), 6. Will Marino (Poway)
182: 1. Tanner Murphy (Madison), 2. Omar Fox (Mt. Carmel), 3. Nathan Tausch (Poway), 4. Quentin Graciano (Orange Glen), 5. Cole Striler (Valley Center), 6. Max Win (University City)
195: 1. Daniel Jauregui (Brawley), 2. Blake Yates (Rancho Bernardo), 3. Justin Pursley (Poway), 4. Nicholas Stuckey (Westview), 5. Marcus Jeffery (Madison), 6. True Stewart (Rancho Bernardo)
220: 1. Hamed Samee (Rancho Bernardo), 2. Nicholas Klekas (Poway), 3. Dane Martinez (Brawley), 4. Kevin Ah Key (West Hills), 5. Joshua Jezycki (Madison), 6. Oscar Ramirez (Guajome Park)
285: 1. Jake Suggett (Eastlake), 2. Jimmy Zarate (Holtville), 4. Luis Mendoza (Orange Glen), 4. Zachary Weaver (West Hills), 5. Luis Torres (Carlsbad), 6. Andrew Poumele (Helix)
Team Points
1. Poway 239
2. Brawley 202
3. Rancho Bernardo 195.5
4. Westview 121.5
5. Eastlake 119
6. Helix 111
7. Valley Center 102
8. (tie) Carlsbad 98
8. (tie) Orange Glen 98
10. Escondido 77
11. West Hills 74
12. Mt. Carmel 61.5
13. Madison 59
14. Mission Hills 50
15. Holtville 42
16. Del Norte 40.5
17. Guajome Park 40
18. El Capitan 28
19. University City 26
20. Christian 22
21. Fallbrook 21
22. Mountain Empire 18
23. San Pasqual 16
24. Castle Park 1
25. Kearny 0
