The Vikings' Brock Bonnette, at 147
pounds, grinds in his first match
Saturday morning at Holtville.
(Photo by Ed Piper)
By Ed Piper
HOLTVILLE--Sophomore Christophe Naviaux, a 147-pounder, and Jake Harvey, wrestling at 154 pounds, were the two of La Jolla's nine wrestlers who lasted in the consolation bracket into the second day of the massive 27-school Holtville Rotary Tournament Friday and Saturday, Jan. 29-30.
The other seven Viking grapplers, having been eliminated from the championship and consolation brackets after the first day of the prestigious double-elimination competition with two losses each, got two new matches in the so-called "Hard Luck Bracket" Saturday.
Coach Kellen Delaney's wrestlers included Elliot Austin (115 pounds), Joe Costa (134), Brocke Bonnette (147), Austin Clerget (147), Jesus Castorena (154), Jack Hathaway (162), and Chris Abarca (184).
In a feature of the 53-year-old tournament--a long 128-mile drive from San Diego--that makes it such a draw for San Diego high wrestlers year-after-year, the nine Vikings were housed by local families overnight Friday after being fed a nice dinner following the first day of matches. "They really like that part," said Delaney, who fondly remembered his own school's hosting of visiting Iowa wrestlers in Kansas City when he was a prep athlete. "It builds camaraderie and they feel a connection."
"This is our hallmark event," said Ryan Lindenblatt, La Jolla assistant coach, of the Holtville tourney. "Every year we aim for this tournament." Two hundred ninety-five wrestlers competed, with every entrant knowing he would get at least four matches in the two days: two or more in the championship and consolation brackets, and two more, if needed, in the Hard Luck Bracket.
"It's a chance to get away," said Juan Sanchez, another La Jolla assistant, with feeling, recalling his own days competing as a Viking wrestler in the renowned tournament. As he spoke, he surveyed the nearly 300 wrestlers from 27 schools, along with hundreds of family members and coaches, packed into the geodesic-dome ceilinged Holtville High gymnasium. Grapplers competed in continuous matches on five mats simultaneously, amid a loud cacophony of coaches shouting instructions and words of encouragement to their student athletes in 14 weight classes.
In the only head-to-head match-up of La Jolla High wrestlers during the tournament, Naviaux out-pointed Bonnette, 17-2, in a 147-pound pairing Friday evening. Both wrestlers came in 1-1 from their previous matches, so Brocke was eliminated, suffering his second loss.
"It was weird," commented Delaney of the wide score differential, "because the two always compete in a wrestle-off against each other in their weight class for dual meets."
The head coach seemed not displeased with his nine wrestlers' efforts at Holtville. Everyone got in a lot of work under meet conditions, there was the bonding and camaraderie aspect of the weekend, and he said he could use the experience in his work with the athletes in the future.
Naviaux, warming up for his consolation bracket match Saturday morning--in which he was pinned in the second period--talked about recovering physically after three matches Friday. "I'm pretty good (about recuperating)," he said. "I don't feel it until I get on the mat."
The sophomore, a wiry 147-pounder, also plays catcher in the La Jolla High baseball program. Asked if he had ever caught both games of a doubleheader, he said, "No, they don't do that. They'll have you play the second game at another position. The most I've caught (in one day) is 13 innings. They did that after I entered the first game midway through."
While relishing his place in the Viking wrestling program, he hopes to be the starting catcher on the junior varsity baseball team this spring.
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