GILROY
– The Garlic City Rumble lived up to its top billing on
Wednesday night as the reigning section champion Mustang matmen and
arch rival Hollister bumped heads at Gilroy High School.
GILROY – The Garlic City Rumble lived up to its top billing on Wednesday night as the reigning section champion Mustang matmen and arch rival Hollister bumped heads at Gilroy High School.
The upset-minded Hay-balers built a commanding 24-6 lead after winning five of the first seven matches with the night beginning in the middle at 145s. But the turn from heavyweight to the lightest 103 weight class brought out the heart of the garlic lineup and string of six straight wins.
Senior Chad Haygood, returning from a collarbone injury just last weekend, sealed the 40-30 dual-meet victory by pinning Hollister’s Evan Rodriguez with 44 seconds left and only one other bout remaining.
Preying on the opponent’s weakness was the key to match, as both Haybaler head coach Matt Olejnik and Mustang head coach Armando Gonzalez tweaked their lineups for the best possible advantage.
But some pivotal matches went Gilroy’s way, giving them the edge in the end of a thrilling night of wrestling.
“It was a chess match, and we had one less piece,” Olejnik said. “I thought we would have won the 152 match which would have given us a six-point swing. I thought we had a chance at 135s as well. Usually there is a surprise somewhere.”
A key bout early on (the second of 14 total) was in the 152-pound class between Mustang senior Miguel Maldonado and Haybaler senior Alex Diaz.
After taking a 4-1 lead in the first period with a pair of takedowns, Maldonado scored a final takedown in the third period for a 6-1 win.
Two other critical bouts both resulted in Gilroy losses, but by not getting pinned both junior Callen Romesberg and senior Jose Albarron helped the team out.
Romesberg started the match, taking on Haybaler senior Octavio Lucatero, who slid up from 140s. Romesberg put up a valiant effort against one the best in the section, losing 7-3.
At 215s, Albarron also gave Hollister senior Matt De La Rosa a battle, falling by a slim 4-1 margin.
