Anything less than a team title at Saturday’s Blossom Valley Athletic League Wrestling Championships will be a disappointment to the Live Oak Acorns.
They aren’t the deepest, nor the most storied program in the 24-team qualifier for next week’s Central Coast Section tournament. But the Acorns are ranked a league-best 11th in the CCS and boast several individual-title contenders. Aside from all of that, they believe in themselves.
“Our teams looks strong right now,” says Live Oak sophomore Isaiah Locsin, the heavy favorite at 113 pounds. “There’s always room for improvement, but I feel really confident that our team’s gonna win it all.”
Should they leave Branham High School with the title, it would be the Acorns’ most prestigious team honor since their second-place finish at sectionals in 2002. They can also win the Mount Hamilton Division title by virtue of a tie-breaker by scoring the highest of the A league teams. Live Oak (6-1) tied for a share of a third consecutive dual-meet title in as many divisions with a 57-6 victory at Prospect on Tuesday.
Winning the BVAL crown, however, and besting the likes of No. 15-ranked Overfelt, No. 16 Santa Teresa and No. 18 Oak Grove, would take a maximum effort by the Acorns, who will not be represented in three weight classes.
“It’s going to come down to falls,” Live Oak assistant coach Armando Gonzalez has said. “We need our studs to give us six points every match.”
The Acorns can count on that from their two leading individual-title contenders, Locsin and freshman Jonathan Robles-Rials, the BVAL’s highest ranked (No. 4) 106-pounder. Locsin is listed second in California, tops in the CCS and has not lost since last year’s 103-pound state final.
Nick Locsin could challenge for first as well at 132 pounds. The junior held his own against tough competition during the dual meet season and has climbed to ninth in the CCS rankings, second highest in the BVAL behind James Lick senior Dario Gamino.
Tyler Pederson (No. 12 CCS) made the 135-pound BVAL final as a junior but will be hard-pressed to do the same at 138. His competition includes No. 5 Tyler Torrecillas of Leigh and 10th-ranked Marc Joseph Ynostroza of Overfelt.
Sophomore Austin Langford (No. 22 at 120 pounds) and junior 170-pounder Derek Peralta could also make an impact for the Acorns.
Live Oak coach Robert Fernandez’s goal is seven sectional qualifiers.
“This is our season right here, everything,” he said Thursday. “We’re in it to win it.”
- Sobrato junior Zach Zhang (No. 9) is one of the favorites at 145 pounds and should face moderate competition through the final, where he would likely wrestle No. 8-ranked Anthony Talamantes of Del Mar.
Bryan Gomes (No. 13 at 120 pounds) stands a good chance at a first berth in sectionals, but the senior will have to earn it at 126 pounds, which looks to be one of the toughest weights.
Senior Evan Enright (No. 17) and junior Thomas Burback (No. 19) are in the hunt for CCS as well at 160 and 138 pounds, respectively.
The Bulldogs are coming off a tough loss, 42-37, to first-place Lincoln in their final Santa Teresa Division dual meet.
- Wrestling begins approximately at 10 a.m. Saturday at Branham High School. The medal round is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. followed by the finals at 6. The top five finishers in each weight class advance to the Feb. 24-25 CCS Championships at Independence High School.
