On senior night, team captain gets pin in final dual
MORGAN HILL — Tony Morales gave the home crowd something to cheer about.
In a senior night that featured 13 forfeits and eight total victories for the visiting Gunderson Grizzlies, Morales squeezed some noise out of Live Oak Gym with his second-round pin against Michael Vargas at 125 pounds. Morales, one of five fourth-year Acorns who were honored before the Blossom Valley Athletic League-West Valley Division dual, built an imposing 14-2 lead before finishing off Vargas while working a reverse half nelson.
Live Oak’s team captain recorded the only competitive victory for the Acorns in a 48-36 loss Tuesday. They received forfeits from Tyler Pederson (112 pounds), Kenny Lee (135), Steven Fernandez (145) and Andrew Stratton (152).
“I was just trying to stay sharp and have some fun,” said Morales, who normally wrestles at 119 pounds. “I didn’t try to cut weight for this one. It gave someone else for our team a chance to wrestle.”
Live Oak ended division duals at 2-5, complete with victories against San Jose and Yerba Buena. It was a much better season than last year, Morales said.
“We had a bigger team. So it was better, having more guys to wrestle around with at practice,” he said. “We won a few; lost a few. It was still fun.”
Gunderson (3-4) got pins from Juana Barajus (103), Jeremy Morales (119), Beecher Battle (130), Jason Bonilla (189) and Elliott Anaya (215).
Before the dual, Live Oak coach Robert Fernandez spoke about his departing class of Morales, Stratton, Julian Estrada, Jeff Roberts and Grant Macierz, a group he wished “he could have for another four years.” Estrada, Stratton, Roberts and Macierz were varsity newcomers this season.
“It’s difficult to have a lot of success in your first year of varsity,” Robert Fernandez said. “In this area, success is difficult to come by unless you’ve been wrestling for years at a competitive level.
“We were decimated by injuries at the wrong time this year. We had two broken arms, two concussions and one MCL tear.”
The Acorns have a week to prepare for the BVAL Finals Tournament, the qualifier for sectionals. The first round begins Friday at Pioneer High School.
“We’re going to try to get these kids as much work as we can,” Robert Fernandez said. “A division title is tough to win without a full roster. We’re going to be as seasoned as possible, though, for League Finals.”
Morales and Steven Fernandez are expected to make deep runs this postseason. Morales is 19-3; and Fernandez 16-3.
“I want to go to state,” Morales said. “That’s been my goal all season.”
