Abraham Sierra (top), a junior 126-pounder, out-lasted
and out-pointed Tyler Campbell, his Don opponent, 12-3,
in a grueling match that went the three periods.
(Photos by Ed Piper)
By Ed Piper
It's a good time to be a wrestler at La Jolla High, with up to 25 varsity and junior varsity grapplers traveling to Rancho Bernardo High two weeks ago for the RB Takedown Tourney, and with the Vikings' varsity 46-31 victory over Cathedral Catholic at home Wednesday night, Dec. 7.
"And we've got athletes," said head JV coach Kraig Feldman early in the preseason build-up, putting emphasis on the word "athletes" as in student competitors who bring natural skills and who are willing to put in the hard work necessary to excel in "the sport without shortcuts".
Which isn't to say that the Vikings are just going to sail through their dual meets and tournament entries this winter. But the upside is becoming apparent, in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic, as boys and girls are both interested in trying the sport out and there--at least at present--are fewer barriers to in-person participation and practice.
On the girls' side, Maddie Quach took part in a JV match Wednesday, as Ella Roman, Tora Tranheim, and Matisse Pickett sat in the bleacher row closest to the "Vikings"-logo mat laid out in the center of the Main Gym on campus.
Veteran returners Abraham and Nick Sierra, both juniors (they're twins), and senior Caden Kestler, among others, led Coach Kellen Delaney's squad into their dual meet season. It was a big win for the program. The stands were fairly full, and the noise level--even with absent Coach Ryan Lindenblatt on leave, he of the dramatic PA-announcing style--was palpable. Question: Do wrestlers in the middle of a match really listen to all those instructions being yelled out from the sidelines?
Senior Caden Kestler, in the 145-pound bout, pinned
Alejandro Alpinieri in 1:27 to close out the
Vikings' 46-31 victory.
Results:
160 - Charles Long (LJ) - win by forfeit
170 - Gustav Rinaldi (LJ) - win by fall (pin) vs. Christopher Lara (CC), 1:06
182 - Hayden Worst (LJ) - win by fall vs. Nick Mojica (CC), 1:38
195 - Emilio Valencia (LJ) - loss by fall vs. Sean Magtoto (CC)
220 - Matt Turecek (LJ) - win by forfeit
Hvywt. - Mike Williams (LJ) - win by forfeit
106 - Noah Pace (LJ) - win by fall vs. Lucas Michelsen (CC), :13
113 - Liam Kressin (LJ) - loss by decision vs. Ava Ebrahimi (CC), 4-1
120 - Nerva Mugisha (LJ) - loss by fall vs. Makai Labayen (CC), 1:32
126 - Abraham Sierra (LJ) - win by decision vs. Tyler Campbell (CC), 12-3
132 - Nicolas Sierra (LJ) - loss by decision vs. Tanner Smith (CC)
138 - Jax Espinosa (LJ) - loss by fall vs. James Johnson (CC), 5:07
145 - Caden Kestler (LJ) - win by fall vs. Alejandro Alpinieri (CC), 1:27
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