Wrestlers from Live Oak and Sobrato high schools completed their
seasons by competing at the Central Coast Section wrestling finals
last weekend. Just two of the combined 11 grapplers the Acorns and
Bulldogs sent to the CCS finals at Overfelt High made it to
Saturday
’s final rounds.
Wrestlers from Live Oak and Sobrato high schools completed their seasons by competing at the Central Coast Section wrestling finals last weekend. Just two of the combined 11 grapplers the Acorns and Bulldogs sent to the CCS finals at Overfelt High made it to Saturday’s final rounds.
LO junior 125-pounder Jason Henderson, who drew a first-round bye and then won his second-round match, advanced in the winner’s bracket quarterfinals, while senior teammate Hondo Dominguez (119) was the sole local to emerge from consolations, rebounding to win three straight matches after losing his opener. But both were eliminated Saturday, as Henderson lost his first two matches and Dominguez split a pair.
LO’s Jon Redmond, the Tri-County Athletic League’s top seed at 171 pounds, nearly made it to the second day, but lost in Friday’s final match, taken out by Salinas wrestler, and league rival, Sam Brooks.
“This is the third time this season those two wrestled,” said Acorn head coach Robert Fernandez. “They were 1-1 coming into (Friday), and (Brooks) beat him. We did pretty good (as a team). In my first year, we took seven to CCS.”
Also competing at CCS for LO were Eddie Mendoza (112), Brett Jones (145), Mitch Haaser (152) and Sean Simonsen.
For the first-year Sobrato wrestling program, the biggest thrill came when heavyweight Gennaro Redmond (Jon’s brother) pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the day by beating Gilroy High heavyweight Sabla in a match that wasn’t even close. Redmond’s win was the only one for the Bulldogs, who sent four wrestlers to CCS, including Jenenetta Marisclan, Jake Ortiz and Victor Gillespie.
Sobrato head coach Ray Garza said he was pleased with the effort his wrestlers produced, despite the losses.
“None of these guys wrestled varsity all year,” Garza said. “None of them cried or complained when I took them to TCALs and four fought their way to CCS.”
Meanwhile, among other area teams, Gilroy won the CCS team championship and four individual titles, and Hollister-San Benito finished fifth overall.
