Which team will win the San Diego Section Division I boys soccer championship, the Division III girls basketball title?

It’s time to find out after the seedings have been posted for this year’s winter sports playoffs.

Girls and boys wrestling teams were the first to award championship trophies and individual medals, now girls water polo, boys and girls basketball and boys and girls soccer teams are ready to take the plunge.

While the Metro Conference did not pick up a team title in last weekend’s boys wrestling divisional championships, the conference did have four wrestlers earn individual weight class titles as well as qualify a rather hefty field of 46 mat men for this weekend’s Masters state-qualifying tournament at Mission Hills High School (Friday and Saturday).

Team titles this year were reserved for Poway (Division I), Granite Hills (Division II), Brawley (Division III) and Holtville (Division IV).

The CIF team championship was the first in school history for Granite Hills while Poway remained on top after moving from Division II back to Division I —between the two divisions, the Titans have collected 41 consecutive team championships and 42 overall. Holtville, meanwhile, captured its third consecutive Division IV title.

Southern exposure
Otay Ranch and Eastlake finished third and fourth, respectively, in the team standings at the Division I tournament at Rancho Bernardo High School while Bonita Vista finished 11th in the 18-team field.

The top seven place-finishers in each weight class at both the Division I and Division II tournaments qualified for the upcoming Masters event.

Otay Ranch’s tallied seven Masters qualifiers: Diego Camacho (second place, 184 pounds), Alijah Wardrobe (third place, 122 pounds), Sinjin Torga-Eide (third place, 128 pounds), Dylan Tolentino (third place, 287 pounds), Abram Jimenez (fourth place, 140 pounds), Dominick Martinez (fifth place, 108 pounds) and Eric Diaz (fifth place, 222 pounds).

Bonita Vista totaled five Masters qualifiers: Ivan Hernandez (third place, 108 pounds), Bradley Bell (fifth place, 134 pounds), Julian Valdivia (fifth place, 147 pounds), Nathan Banaszek (seventh place, 115 pounds) and Edwin Flores (seventh place, 122 pounds).

Eastlake also scored seven Masters qualifiers: Alejandro Martinez (first place, 197 pounds), David Mitrovich (second place, 172 pounds), Brayden Zingano (third place, 162 pounds), Jyoji Ballard (third place, 222 pounds), Jace Peter (fourth place, 147 pounds), Leander Falucho (sixth place, 140 pounds) and Leo Pedregal (seventh place, 154 pounds).

Masters alternates (eighth-place finishers) from the Division I tournament include Eastlake’s John-Paul Arballo (115 pounds) and Otay Ranch’s David Lee (147 pounds).
Metro Conference tournament champion Olympian finished fifth in the Division II team standings while runner-up Chula Vista placed 10th in the 18-team field. San Ysidro was 13th while Hilltop was 16th.

Olympian finished with a bounty of six Masters qualifiers and one individual champion: Jace Watson (first place, 287 pounds), Samuel Costa (second place, 108 pounds), Jareth Marmolejo (third place, 128 pounds), Ethan Mallon (fourth place, 197 pounds), Alejandro Sarabia (fifth place, 115 pounds) and Nabi Azizi (seventh place, 147 pounds).

Chula Vista also recorded six Masters qualifiers: Diego Peraza Aguilar (third place, 147 pounds), Angel Zuniga (third place, 184 pounds), Matthew Gonzalez (fourth place, 154 pounds), James Sanchez (sixth place, 108 pounds), John Reyna (sixth place, 162 pounds) and Ke’Andre Davis (sixth place, 197 pounds).

San Ysidro nabbed four Masters qualifiers and one individual champion: Angel Daniel Martinez (first place, 222 pounds), Rahman Ferguson (second place, 162 pounds), Jaiden Dominguez (fifth place, 154 pounds) and Eric Padilla (seventh place, 287 pounds).

Hilltop snared two Masters qualifiers: Justin Bernardo (second place, 122 pounds) and Noah Heredia (sixth place, 115 pounds).

Masters alternates at the Division II tournament include Olympian’s Isayah Luna (140 pounds) and Hilltop’s Joshua Buenrostro (222 pounds).

Chula Vista entered the postseason on an optimistic note after recording a meteoric second-place finish at this year’s conference championship tournament. The Spartans also defeated Montgomery for this year’s South Bay league dual meet title.

It’s been a rather long wait for accolades for the west side mat program after previously hanging league banners in 1994, 1996, 2000 and 2005.

“The conference tournament went well,” Spartan coach and CVHS alumnus Brian Halter said. “We performed better than expected, placing six wrestlers at first team all-league. Chula Vista has not placed that high (finishing second) since Coach Darrell McPherren has taken over. We are optimistic about next year but will be a very young team since we are losing 19 seniors.

“As for CIF this was Chula Vista’s first year moving to D2. We had very high hopes for a few of our wrestlers. We actually came back with six wrestlers heading to the Masters tournament.

“In total Chula Vista will be bringing six boys and one girl (Anaya Rhodes) to Masters.”
Montgomery (13th, 64 points), Castle Park (17th, 23 points) and Southwest (18th, 16 points) participated in the 19-deep Division II finals at Brawley High School.
The top six place-finishers qualified for Masters.

Montgomery had three Masters qualifiers: Jose Aspericueta (second place, 154 pounds), Esteban Gonzalez (second place, 197 pounds) and Zachariash Montes (sixth place, 108 pounds).

Brian Moreno (sixth place, 184 pounds) will represent Southwest at Masters while Castle Park’s Valentin Navarro (sixth place, 287 pounds) will represent Castle Park.

Castle Park’s Andre Valle finished eighth at 222 pounds while Montgomery’s Eduardo Reyes place eighth in the heavyweight division.

Mater Dei Catholic (14th place, 56 points) and Mar Vista (15th place, 55.5 points) competed at the Division IV tournament at Lincoln High School.

The top four place-finishers advanced to Masters, making it a challenge for wrestlers to continue their seasons.

Mater Dei Catholic recorded three Masters qualifiers: Brandon Kamali (second place, 134 pounds), Adrian Morales (fourth place, 115 pounds)and Jacob Gilbert (fourth place, 122 pounds).

Mar Vista garnered one weight class champion: Dylan Hartley at 154 pounds while Alejandro Gurrola finished in sixth place at 108 pounds.

Mat attack
Eastlake’s Martinez took down Poway’s Gabe Taylor by a 10-6 decision to capture the Division I gold medal.

San Ysidro’s Martinez defeated Granite Hills’ Joseph Smith by a 9-0 major decision in the finals while Olympian’s Watson pinned Mira Mesa’s Noah Chiw in the championship round in the Division II finals.

Hartley edged Coastal Academy’s Giancarlo Tolentino, 12-10, to win the Division IV gold medal.

 

San Diego Section Winter Sports Playoffs

SOUTH COUNTY QUALIFIERS

Boys Basketball

Open Division
Quarterfinals
Friday. Feb. 17, all games 7 p.m.
(8) Mater Dei Catholic at (1) St. Augustine
(5) La Costa Canyon at (4) San Ysdiro
(6) Santa Fe Christian at (3) Montgomery
(7) Torrey Pines at (2) Carlsbad

Semifinals
Wednesday, Feb. 22
All games 7 p.m. at higher seed
St. Augustine-Mater Dei Catholic winner vs. San Ysidro-LCC winner
Montgomery-SFC winner vs. Carlsbad-Torrey Pines winner

 

Division I

First Round
Tuesday, Feb. 14
(1) Mission Bay 79, (16) Orange Glen 23
((8) Poway 72, (9) Bonita Vista 61
(5) El Camino 75, (12) Sage Creek 57
(4) San Diego 91, (13) Calexico 51
(6) Mission Hills 58, (11) Hoover 45
(3) La Jolla Country Day 74, (14) Patrick Henry 42
(10) San Marcos 68, (7) Cathedral Catholic 66
(2) Del Norte 71, (15) Francis Parker 57

Quarterfinals
Friday, Feb. 17
All games 7 p.m.
(8) Poway at (1) Mission Bay
(5) El Camino at (4) San Diego
((Mission Hills) at (3) La Jolla Country Day
(1) San Marcos at (2) Del Norte

Semifinals
Tuesday, Feb. 21
All games 7 p.m.
Teams TBA at higher seed

Championship game
Friday, Feb. 24
Teams TBA, 5 p.m. at St. Augustine High School

 

Division II

First Round
Tuesday, Feb. 14
(1) Otay Ranch 85, (16) Foothills Christian 29
(9) Eastlake 55, (8) Bishop’s 54
(5) Rancho Bernardo 69, (12) Canyon Crest Academy 60
(4) Scripps Ranch 70, (13) Christian 43
(14) Mt. Carmel 53, (5) Coronado 50
(11) University City 67, (6) Helix 55
(10) Vista 76, (7) Madison 62
(2) Lincoln 72, (15) San Dieguito Academy 54

Quarterfinals
Friday, Feb. 17, all games 7 p.m.
(9) Eastlake at (1) Otay Ranch
(5) Rancho Bernardo at (4) Scripps Ranch
(14) Mt. Carmel at (11) University City
(10) Vista at (2) Lincoln

Semifinals
Wednesday, Feb. 22
Teams TBA, 7 p.m. at higher seed

Championship game
Friday, Feb. 24
Teams TBA, 5 p.m. at Mira Mesa high School

Division III

First Round
Tuesday, Feb. 14
(1) Victory Christian Academy 82, (16) Fallbrook 54
(8) Mission Vista 73, (9) Steele Canyon 65
(5) West Hills 70, (12) Central Union 53
(4) Rancho Buena Vista 66, (13) Escondido Charter 65
(3) Ramona 73, (14) Morse 50
(6) Olympian 48, (11) Westview 44
(7) Valhalla 60, (10) Maranatha Christian 55
(2) High Tech High 67, (15) Point Loma 45

Quarterfinals
Friday, Feb. 17
All games at 7 p.m.
(9) Steele Canyon at (1) Victory Christian Academy
(5) West Hills at (4) Rancho Buena Vista
(6) Olympian at (3) Ramona
(7) Valhalla at (2) high Tech High San Diego

Semifinals
Tuesday, Feb. 21
All games 7 p.m.
Teams TBA at higher seed

Championship game
Thursday, Feb. 23
Teams TBA, 7:30 p.m. at Mira Mesa High School

 

Division IV

First Round
Tuesday, Feb. 14
(8) San Pasqual 55, (9) Canyon Hills 45
(5) Mar Vista 70, (12) Mt. Miguel 55
(4) El Capitan 79, (13) Hilltop 40
(6) St. Joseph Academy 65, (11) Palo Verde Valley 52
(7) Kearny 67, (10) Calvin Christian 62
(15) Brawley at (2) Clairemont

Wednesday, Feb. 15
(1) Vincent Memorial 67, (16) Sweetwater 38
(3) Imperial 80, (14) Southwest San Diego 38

Quarterfinals
Friday, Feb. 17
All games 7 p.m.
(8) San Pasqual at (1) Vincent Memorial
(5) Mar Vista at (4) El Captian
(6) St. Joseph 65, (11) Palo Verde 52
(3) Imperial 80, (14) Southwest San Diego 38
7) Kearny 67, (10 Calexico 52
(15) Brawley 55, (2) Clairemont 40

Semifinals
Wednesday, Feb. 22
All games 7 p.m.
Teams TBA at higher seed

Championship game
Friday, Feb. 24
Teams TBA, 5 p.m. at Otay Ranch High School

 

Division V

Play-in Game
Monday, Feb. 13
San Diego Jewish Academy 55, High Tech High Mesa 48

First Round
Tuesday, Feb. 14
(1) Rock Academy 62, (16) San Diego Jewish Academy 48
(8) Classical Academy 74, (9) San Pasqual Academy 31
(5) Horizon Prep 44, (12) High Tech High North County 33
(4) Del Lago Academy 80, (13) Bayfront Charter 62
(6) Santana 65, (11) Chula Vista 40
(2) Valley Center 94, (15) Liberty Charter 40

Thursday, Feb. 16
(10) Calipatria 68, (7) High Tech High Chula Vista 48

Quarterfinals
Friday, Feb. 17
All games 7 p.m.
(8) Classical Academy at (1) Rock Academy
(5) Horizon Prep at (4) Del Lago Academy
(14) El Cajon Valley at (6) Santana
(10) Calipatria at (2) Valley Center

Semifinals
Tuesday, Feb. 21
All games 7 p.m.
Teams TBA at higher seed

Championship game
Thursday, Feb. 23
Teams TBA, 7:30 p.m. at Otay Ranch High School

Girls Basketball

Open Division

Quarterfinals
Saturday, Feb. 18
All games at 7 p.m.
(8) Scripps Ranch at (1) La Jolla Country Day
(5) Mission Hills at (4) Bonita Vista
(6) Poway at (3) Westview
(7) Del Norte at (2) Mt. Miguel

Semifinals
Wednesday, Feb. 22 
Scripps Ranch-LJCD winner vs. Bonita Vista-Mission Hills winner
Poway-Westview winner vs. Mt. Miguel-Del Norte winner

Championship game
Saturday, Feb. 25
Teams TBA, 2 p.m. at Cathedral Catholic High School

 

Division I

Wednesday, Feb. 22
First Round
All games at 7 p.m.
(1) Mater Dei Catholic bye
(8) San Marcos 59, (9) Holtville 33
(5) Cathedral Catholic 76, (12) Otay Ranch 25
(4) Carlsbad 62, (13) Christian
(3) Rancho Bernardo 63, (11) Fallbrook 68
(6) Grossmont 32, (14) San Dieguito Academy27
(10) Eastlake 61, (7) La Costa Canyon 53
(2) Imperial bye

Quarterfinals
Saturday, Feb. 18
All games 7 p.m. at higher seed
(8) San Marcos at (1) Mater Dei Catholic
(5) Cathedral Catholic at (4) Carlsbad
(6) Grossmont at (3) Rancho Bernardo
(10) Eastlake at (2) Imperial

Semifinals
Tuesday, Feb. 21
All games 7 p.m.
Teams TBA at higher seed

Championship game
Friday, Feb. 24
Teams TBA, 7:30 p.m. at St. Augustine High School

 

Division II

First Round
Wednesday, Feb. 15
(1) Olympian 62, (16) Mira Mesa 35
(9) Oceanside 54, (8) Helix 38
(5) St. Joseph Academy 60, (12) Mission Vista 47
(4) Francis Parker 46, (13) Rancho Buena Vista 37
(6) Morse 56, (11) Classical Academy 24
(3) Mt. Carmel 77, (14) Monte Vista 57
(7) Our Lady of Peace 62, (10) El Capitan 39
(2) Torrey Pines 73, (15) Pacific Ridge 26

Quarterfinals
Saturday, Feb. 18
All games at 7 p.m.
(9) Oceanside at (1) Olympian
(5) St. Joeph Academy at (4) Francis Parker
(6) Morse at (3) Mt. Carmel
(7) Our Lady of Peace at (2) Torrey Pines

Semifinals
Wednesday, Feb. 22
All games at 7 p.m.
Teams TBA at higher seed

Championship game
Friday, Feb. 24
Teams TBA, 7:30 p.m. at Mira Mesa High School

 

Division III

Play-in Round
San Ysidro 50, Liberty Charter 28

First Round
Wednesday, Feb. 15
All games at 7 p.m.
(1) San Diego 66, (16) San Ysidro 32
(8) Victory Christian Academy 53, (9) Valley Center 35
(5) Sage Creek 66, (12) Hoover 50
(4) Montgomery 79, (13) Madison 43
(6) Calexico 48, (11) West Hills 28
(3) Steele Canyon 41, (14) Chula Vista 28
(10) Point Loma 46, (7) El Cajon Valley 21
(2) Granite Hills 50, (15) Brawley 31

Quarterfinals
Saturday, Feb. 18
All games at 7 p.m.
(8) Victory Christian Academy at (1) San Diego
(5) Sage Creek at (4) Montgomery
(6) Calexico at (3) Steele Canyon
(10) Point Loma at (2) Granite Hills

Semifinals
Tuesday, Feb. 21
All games at 7 p.m.
Teams TBA at higher seed

Championship game
Thursday, Feb. 23
Teams TBA, 5 p.m. at Mira Mesa High School

 

Division IV

First Round
All games at 7 p.m.
(1) Palo Verde 56, (16) Orange Glen 23
(8) Escondido Charter 67, (9) Bayfront Charter 32
(5) Crawford 45, (12) La Jolla 35
(4) University City 64, (13) tri-City Christian 32
(6) Patrick Henry 67, (11) Horizon Prep 22
(3) Vincent Memorial 57, (14) Escondido 33
(7) Calipatria 52, (10) Santa Fe Christian 50
(2) Central Union 62, (15) Hilltop 32

Quarterfinals
Saturday, Feb. 18
All games 7 p.m.
(8) Escondido Charter) at (1) Palo Verde
(5) Crawford at (4) University City
(6) Patrick Henry at (3) Vincent Memorial
(7) Calipatria at (2) Central Union

Semifinals
Wednesday, Feb. 22
All games 7 p.m.
Teams TBA at higher seed

Championship game
Friday, Feb. 24
Teams TBA, 7:30 p.m. at Otay Ranch high School

 

Division V

Play-n Games
SET 43, Guajpme Park Academy 42
High Tech High North County 32, Warner 18
Ocean View Christian Academy 34, Gompers Prep Academy 30

First Round
All games at 7 p.m.
(1) Valhalla 51, (16) SET 17
(8) High Tech High Mesa 50, (9) Clairemont 38
(12) Southwest El Centro 39, (5) Cambridge School 23
(13) Kearny 30, (4) Preuss UCSD 26
(3) Rock Academy 43, (14) High Tech High North County 29
(6) Mission Bay 52, (11) Del Lago Academy 8
(10) Mar Vista 55, (7) Escondido Adventist 34
(2) High Tech High San Diego 50, Ocean View Christian Academy 24

Quarterfinals
Saturday, Feb. 18
All games 7 p.m.
(8) High Tech High Mesa winner at (1) Valhalla
(13) Kearny at (12) Southwest El Centro
(6) Mission Bay at (3) Rock Academy
(10) Mar Vista at (2) High Tech High San Diego

Semifinals
Tuesday, Feb. 21
All games 7 p.m.
Teams TBA at higher seed

Championship game
Thursday, Feb. 23
Teams TBA at 5 p.m., at Otay Ranch High School