Morgan Hill is sending eight wrestlers to this week’s Central
Coast Section Championships, and each faces a difficult path to
state
SAN JOSE — Morgan Hill is sending eight wrestlers to this week’s Central Coast Section Championships, and each faces a difficult path to state.
No local wrestlers were listed in the tournament seedings released Tuesday. That includes Live Oak’s Steven Fernandez and Sobrato’s Drew Johnson, who reached the round of championships Saturday in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Finals. Fernandez won the 154-pound title, and Johnson placed second at 132.
Among locals, they had the best chance of being seeded for the double-elimination tournament, which begins at 9 a.m. Friday at Independence High, and earning an inside track to state. Instead, they have a more challenging route.
The top four finishers earn invites to the March 5-6 State Championships held in Bakersfield’s Rabobank Arena.
Fernandez, who was two wins shy of going to state as a junior 145-pounder in 2009, is entered at 152 pounds and will be accompanied on his fourth run at sectionals by senior teammates Joe Dorsch (145 pounds) and Erik Poulsen (285).
Sobrato has entered five wrestlers: Steven Simmons (135), Ryan Brewer (152), Rafael Anaya (189), Gustavo Ramirez (285) and Johnson (130). Anaya, a junior, is making his third consecutive trip to CCS finals, and Brewer his second.
Competition resumes at 9 a.m. Saturday with the winners-bracket and consolation events following in succession. The championship round is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
Also, Sobrato junior Keri Hanamoto (118) will compete in the CCS Girls Wrestling Invitational Tournament beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday at Independence.
Seedings for the CCS Championships are as follows:
103 pounds — 1. Daniel Polanco, sophomore, St. Francis; 2. Nam Nguyen, sophomore, Overfelt; 3. Leif Dominguez, freshman, Gilroy; 4. Johnny Alonzo, junior, Alisal; 5. Abram Ross, freshman, Oak Grove; 6. Manny Borrego, freshman, Terra Nova. 112 pounds — 1. Kaelob Obien, junior, Independence; 2. Johnnie Nguyen, senior, Andrew Hill; 3. Duy Nguyen, senior, Wilcox; 4. Alexis Arciga, sophomore, Overfelt; 5. Edwardo Lopez, sophomore, Alisal; 6. Jeremiah Ramirez, senior, King City. 119 pounds — 1. Adolpho Davila, senior, San Benito; 2. Rodney Balajadia, senior, Gilroy; 3. Brian Ha, junior, El Camino; 4. Tanner Heath, junior, Aptos; 5. Cassidy Octavio, junior, Bellarmine; 6. Franks Escajadillo, senior, Oceana. 125 pounds — 1. Jesse Delgado, senior, Gilroy; 2. John Claitor, junior, Half Moon Bay; 3. Alex Howard, junior, Los Gatos; 4. Arturo Morado, junior, Alisal; 5. Nick Bernardo, freshman, Oak Grove; 6. Alfred Murabito, sophomore, Saratoga. 130 pounds — 1. Jorge Barajas, sophomore, St. Francis; 2. Willie Fox, sophomore, Gilroy; 3. Anthonie Linares, junior, Oak Grove; 4. Andy Kreidle, senior, Los Gatos; 5. Zack Rodriguez, junior, San Benito; 6. Jack Sakai, senior, Palo Alto. 135 pounds — 1. Blake Kastl, sophomore, Gilroy; 2. Nick Cano, junior, St. Francis; 3. Scott Chessin, senior, Los Gatos; 4. Ethan Ruby, senior, Bellarmine; 5. Garun Arustamov, junior, Cupertino; 6. Johnny Mercado, senior, Oak Grove. 140 pounds — 1. Stefan Weidermann, junior, Gunn; 2. Ryan Schott, senior, St. Francis; 3. Jon McCarthy, senior, Archbishop Mitty; 4. Joe Johnson, senior, Fremont; 5. Omri Rahmil, senior, Los Gatos; 6. Victory Saldana, senior, Overfelt. 145 pounds — 1. Cody Rodebaugh, senior, San Lorenzo Valley; 2. Adam Pilkington, senior, Bellarmine; 3. Casey Johnson, senior, Fremont; 4. Jonathan Gonzalez, junior, Santa Teresa; 5. Luis Mitre, senior, Overfelt; 6. Ian Messaros, junior, Cupertino. 152 pounds — 1. Vicente Aboytes, senior, Gilroy; 2. Michael Ciccarelli, senior, King City; 3. Gurmukh Singh, senior, Cupertino; 4. Sean McVannel, senior, Salinas; 5. Max Simon, senior, Palo Alto; 6. Sam Hopkins, sophomore, St. Francis. 160 pounds — 1. Dominic Kastl, senior, Gilroy; 2. Jeremy Mitchell, senior, Bellarmine; 3. Kyle Venell, senior, Prospect; 4. Alex Rankin, senior, St. Francis; 5. Mike Sarmiento, senior, Palma; 6. Marty Rayburn, senior, Aptos. 171 pounds — 1. Tyler Edwards, senior, Monterey; 2. Sebastien Chene, senior, Leigh; 3. Eric Ochoa, senior, King City; 4. Jeff Tran, senior, Milpitas; 5. Cesar Fernandez, senior, Oak Grove; 6. Trevor Perrigo, senior, Harbor. 189 pounds — 1. Ismael Sanchez, junior, Silver Creek; 2. Logan Kellogg, junior, San Lorenzo Valley; 3. John Velez, senior, Aptos; 4. Danny Chaid, sophomore, Bellarmine; 5. Robert Nessier, senior, St. Francis; 6. Josh Castillo, junior, Watsonville. 215 pounds — 1. Juniel Morales, senior, Oak Grove; 2. Scot Basil, junior, Mount Pleasant; 3. Joey Lopez, senior, Serra; 4. Dylan Johns, senior, Los Gatos; 5. Justin Sagote, senior, Wilcox; 6. Joey Walker, senior, Archbishop Mitty. 285 pounds — 1. Drew Meulman, senior, St. Francis; 2. Luis Barragan, senior, Gilroy; 3. Max Lohr, senior, Pacific Grove; 4. Brian Newell, senior, Sequoia; 5. Charlie Hohenschuh, senior, Burlingame; 6. Brandon Pulealii, junior, Palma.
