Bulldogs Head into Season Optimistic About Competing in the TCAL
with Young, Hungry Team
Morgan Hill – As Sobrato’s first-year varsity wrestling coach Phil Luna, who had retired from coaching after 10 years at Willow Glen, is optimistic about the Bulldogs’ young team and season.
“We feel like we can compete in this league, even with upper echelon teams like Gilroy and San Benito,” said Luna. “I’m really excited about this year.”
The Bulldogs didn’t have much funding and no mats last season when trying to put together a junior varsity squad. This season Luna says the school and parental support has been outstanding.
Two wrestlers on the team Luna is excited about are juniors Moses Gillardo and Anthony Mendez. Gillardo, a transfer student from Bellarmine, is ranked No.1 in the Central Coast Section at the 130-pound weight class and is one of the reasons Luna decided to come back to coaching. Mendez is ranked No.5 in the CCS at the 103-pound weight class and has been working with Luna since he was in the fourth grade.
“The dedication that Moses puts in is impressive. He has put time in running and weight lifting after practice. He absorbs everything you tell him,” said Luna. “I’ve been coaching Anthony since he was in the fourth grade and he is just a mean, tough kid. When he gets on the mat, he’s ready to rumble.”
The Bulldogs also have one girl wrestler on the team. Jennette Marisclan placed fourth at the North Coast Girls Classic last weekend.
Luna is impressed with his young team as six out of nine Bulldog wrestlers, all freshmen, placed while participating in the Tri County Athletic League Novice Tournament on Wednesday in Hollister.
“We are a very young team with 13 freshmen out of 21 kids,” explained Luna. “Those 13 freshmen are very remarkable for never having wrestled before. It’s impressive what these kids did after only wrestling for a month.”
Justin Everson earned the only first place finish for Sobrato at the 130-pound weight class, and teammate Nick Hagiperos finished second in the 103-pound weight class. The Bulldogs had four wrestlers with third place finishes, Joseph Redman (103-pounds), Michael McChesney (103-pounds), Taylor Ortez (152-pounds) and Tony Zizzo (145-pounds).
“The squad as a whole just absorbs everything,” said Luna. “We’re overjoyed with these guys. Even when they are sick and can’t practice, they still show up to watch and they want to learn. They do exactly what we say and they are learning and improving everyday.”
One of the biggest challenges facing the Bulldogs this season will be how they respond to adversity at the big tournaments with other top wrestlers, according to Luna. Will they think they can’t match up because of inexperience or will they go in knowing they can compete.
“I think they’ll all be ready to wrestle and go for it,” said Luna.
The Bulldogs will be in action this weekend at the Stampede Invitational at Leigh High School. Then the team heads to Valley Christian on Tuesday for their last meet before league gets under way. Sobrato faces its first big challenge next Wednesday as it travels to Hollister to face off against a traditionally very tough San Benito team.
Bulldogs wrestling
2004-2005 Result
No varsity squad
Top Newcomers
Moses Gillardo, Jr -130-lbs
Anthony Mendez, Jr -103-lbs
Taylor Ortez, Fr- 152-lbs
Tony Zizzo, Fr- 145-lbs
OUTLOOK
Head coach Phil Luna has 10 years of coaching experience, along with assistant coach Vince Rodriguez. Luna is optimistic that his squad of young wrestlers will compete and is impressed with their ability and hunger to learn.
2005-2006 Sobrato
Wrestling Schedule
(All Home Games in Bold)
Date Time Opponent Where
12/13 5:00 Valley Christian Valley Christian
12/14 5:30 Hollister Hollister
12/16 9:00 Coast Classic Scotts Valley
12/17 9:00 Coast Classic Scotts Valley
12/21 5:30 Live Oak Sobrato
01/11 5:30 Salinas Sobrato
01/17 5:30 North Salinas North Salinas
01/25 5:30 Gilroy Sobrato
02/1 5:30 Palma Palma
02/7 7:00 Palma Palma
02/11 9:00 TCALs Gilroy
