For their first time out, they did a pretty good impersonation
of seasoned wrestlers.
For their first time out, they did a pretty good impersonation of seasoned wrestlers.
That could be said of many of the Live Oak High wrestlers who competed at the Tri-County Athletic League wrestling tournament at Gilroy High on Wednesday. But it was especially true of Copatzy Valencia and Beatrice Castro, who became the first girls to wrestle in a competitive match for Live Oak.
Amazingly, both ended up winning by pin in their first-ever matches. Valencia pinned North Salinas’ Greg Tabera in the third period of their 174-pound match, while Castro pinned Tabera’s Viking teammate Valerie Estratz at 112 pounds.
“That just warms my heart to see those girls do well,” Acorn assistant coach Kevin Courtney said.
Valencia went on to win another match and finished fifth in her weight class with a 2-2 record. Castro finished sixth in her weight class.
Other top wrestlers for Live Oak at the tourney included 135-pounder Brett Jones and Heavyweight Gennaro Redmond, who both finished second in their weight classes, and 119-pounder Jason Hendersen, 140-pounder Steven Gunn and 152-pounder Richard Hossein, who all won three of four matches and finished third in their respective weight classes.
Several of them are expected to compete at the varsity level for Live Oak, especially those in the lighter weight classes.
The other Acorn wrestlers who earned valuable experience at the tourney included Jake Ortiz (fifth at 125), Steven Dominguez (125), Roger Alcarez (fourth at 130) and Locsin (fifth at 145).
