LJ wrestling: Faress joins Isaiah and Joshua as league champions

Faress Zwain (top), the Vikings' 152-pound wrestler, dominates his
opponent, Gibson Puckett of San Diego High, early in their match
on his way to a 14-2 win by decision.
(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Senior Faress Zwain, capping a high school career of hard work, built an insurmountable lead against 152-pound opponent Gibson Puckett of San Diego High on the way to a 14-2 major decision Wed., Jan. 30, thereby clinching the Eastern League title in his weight class.

"It means a lot," said Zwain after his match, "because that's my first time winning (a league title) in four years of wrestling."

The 12th-grader joins classmate Isaiah Torres, at 222 pounds, and junior Joshua Jasso, 197, as league champions in their respective weight classes. The two others did not have official matches against the Cavers, who forfeited at those two weights, and had already secured their conference titles prior to the dual meet downtown.

Zwain, who took command from the outset of his bout in the dual meet, quickly maneuvered his way to a 4-0 advantage in the first period. Beginning the second period, he performed an escape from the down position, and followed with two-point takedown of the nearly defenseless Puckett for a 7-1 lead.

Viking league champions for 2019, from left:
Isaiah Torres (222 pounds), Joshua Jasso (197),
and Faress Zwain (152).
 

In the third round, it was more of the same, with Faress combining strength with his quickness to forge a 9-1 edge on a reverse. During the majority of the match, the muscled wrestler fully controlled his foe. The only question was how high the score would reach, or if Zwain would pin him.

The eventual 14-2 margin enabled the senior to score four points for his team, on account of it being a win by eight or more points, thus classified a major decision.

At that point, Coach Kellen Delaney's Vikings trailed the aroused Cavers, 40-25, on Senior Night at San Diego High.

The final was 46-25, ending the dual meet season in the Eastern League in advance of the City Conference Championships Sat., Feb. 2, at Cathedral Catholic High.

"San Diego was stronger than we expected, but we held our own," said Delaney, not unsatisfied with his squad's effort.

LJ wrestling: Results

By Ed Piper

"We've had some good matches today. It's a good way to finish," exulted Kellen Delaney, La Jolla's head wrestling coach, Saturday afternoon, Jan. 26, at the Viking team picnic outside the Holville High gym in Imperial Valley.

Zeke Pearl, in a 122-pound match in the Hard Luck Bracket on the outside mats, forged his way to a narrow 7-6 win over Chance Matson of Ramona earlier Saturday. (There were five mats inside the gym.)

Pearl took a 2-1 lead in the first period on a takedown, then found himself knotted with Matson 6-6 after a flurry of points by both wrestlers in the second period.

The winning point came on an escape Zeke pulled off late in the lower-weight bout.


Teammate Alex Von Mueller, a novice to wrestling who showed his willingness to try a new sport and to travel with the team to the distant tournament, forcing him to arrange to take his Friday finals on an earlier day, engaged fellow 128-pounder Jeffrey Johnson of Cathedral in a Saturday morning bout.

The first period ended with no score. In period two, Johnson led 2-0 with 1:17 left when Von Mueller sustained what was diagnosed on a preliminary basis as a badly bruised knee when his knee hit the mat on a legal maneuver. After Delaney and a Holtville High athletic trainer attended to the freshman, the match was called.

At the later picnic, Alex seemed to be moving without grimacing and his mother said he appeared to be okay.

This latter match also took place in the Hard Luck Bracket, for competitors who had lost two matches in the championship and consolation brackets of the Holtville Rotary Invitational.

LJ b soccer: Here's looking at you

By Ed Piper

An informal, incomplete poll of preferences before and during La Jolla's soccer game against visiting Crawford Tues., Jan. 29, yielded the following results:

Emiliano Godinez
Right wing
Senior
18 years old
Food: Sushi
Music genre: Electronic
Language you'd like to learn: French
Performer: Fisher ( DJ)

Pablo Ja'tiva
Midfielder
Jersey number: 6
17
Food: Paella
Genre: Latina/reggaeton
Language you'd like to learn: Mandarin
My nickname for him: The Ambassador

Nick Goehler
Center back
Captain
Senior
#17
Food: Pizza
Genre: Rap
Language you'd like to learn: Japanese
Performer: Blueface
Social media: Instagram
My nickname for him: The Hulk

Noah Brown
Left back
Junior
17
Food: Pizza
Genre: Rap
Language you'd like to learn: Italian
Performer: Penn & Teller
My nickname for him: Surfer Boy


Spencer Carswell
Forward
Freshman
15
Food: Lasagna
Genre: Any
Language you'd like to learn: French
Performer: The Stones
My nickname for him: Younger Surfer Boy


Teo Frankel
Left/right wing
Senior
17
Food: Sesame chicken
Genre: Any
Language you'd like to learn: Portuguese
Performer: Green Day
Social media: Instagram
My nickname for him: The International

Victor Zendejas
Assistant coach
50
Viking alumnus - played here in the 80's
Food: Carne asada
Genre: Reggae
Performers: Bad Bunny, Bob Marley
My nicknames for him: The Old Man; The Quiet One; Unemotional One

Luis Goehler
Striker, ASC San Diego
19
Former Viking star and older brother of Nick Goehler
Food: German sausage
Genre: German rap
Performer: Kay One
Language you'd like to learn: Spanish
My nickname for him: Green Eyes

Evan Suljic
Left midfielder - JV
Sophomore
15
Food: Pizza
Genre: Smooth jazz
Language you'd like to learn: Masai (with the clicks)
Performer: Lil Tay
Social media: Snapchat
My nickname for him: The Up-and-Comer

Kristofer
Center back - JV
Sophomore
16
Food: Tacos
Genre: Rock
Language you'd like to learn: German
Performer: Bruce Springsteen
Social media: Snapchat
My nickname for him: Up-and-Comer II

LJ b BB: Prospectus

By Ed Piper

The 2019 Western League season thus far can be characterized as somewhat disheartening to La Jolla fans, with no victories to claim against the top three of St. Augustine, Mission Bay, and Cathedral Catholic.

In fact, the entire league slate has been too predictable, with the Saints, ranked tops in the county, defeating all comers to this point with a week left in the regular season. Likewise, the Buccaneers, defending their Open Division title from a year ago, have beaten everyone below them but have not been able to crack the Saint ceiling above them.

And Cathedral, never one to be predictable in Coach Will Cunningham's decade in the hot seat, hasn't been able to solve either their Catholic brethren in North Park nor their secular superiors under Coach Marshawn Cherry at Mission Bay.

The winter break also set in a midseason lull that has made the Vikings, who have been fired by the spirit of transfer Jett Wilson and holdover Behzad Hashemi, look like they're climbing uphill in a Division 1 league that neutral observers find a poor fit for their talents.

Coach Paul Baranowski's squads on Westbourne have always over-achieved, slaying Goliaths on numerous dates, rising to the occasion for blows against opponents stocked with transfers and recruits.

There is the struggle between the "college spirit" mentality of "Let's play up, bring on the best teams while maintaining traditional rivalries"--meaning getting your head handed to you by St. Augustine repeatedly, carving courtesy of Mike Haupt, the Saints' able handler--versus the "equity" mandate of the "new" CIF beginning four years ago, basing league placement on recent performance rather than enrollment.

But regular realignment based on results for some reason kept striving La Jolla in Division 1 this year with teams far superior to them, especially St. Augustine and the Mission Bay of the past three years (guard Boogie Ellis' reign).

Is it due to a need for teams to fill out conference slots? Serra is lowly and just doesn't seem a fit. Patrick Henry, losing coach Jason Bryant to Mater Dei Catholic, hasn't been competitive this season.

There's still an opening for the Vikings to stun Christian at the faith-based school's location, and one last appearance against the Bucs and Boogie at home.

We're all hoping for the best.

We don't fault the guys. They're playing their hearts out. We fault the league placement.

And a CIF first-round game won't provide any respite, with the Vikings most likely to matched up against a strong team.

*  *  *

If the Division 1 playoffs started today, with the top eight teams going to the Open Division bracket, number-18 La Jolla would travel to number-15 La Costa Canyon, no other factors included.

This wouldn't be an insurmountable, impossible matchup for the Vikings. Maybe this would be just the thing to key seniors Wilson, Hashemi, Nick Hulquist and company into primal action like they showed in December against all comers.

LCC is a big sports-machine North County school (I substitute-teach there), but its 11-11 basketball team isn't a superpower. So, dilute some of the things I said above in the aftermath of the disappointing loss to a vulnerable Cathedral team (last night, as I write this).

In fact, in the Vikings' favor, their strength-of-schedule (how tough their opponents have been) is rated at 14.6, one of the better numbers in the MaxPreps rankings online. LCC is looking at 16.8, but that doesn't mean they would be heavily favored.

LJHS is 10-14, which ain't bad considering missing Diego Solis, a likely starter, the whole season till now, plus Evan Brown, another starter, and Gabe Solis due to the horrific triple-collarbone-break issue.

The Vikings kind of take an against-the-whole-world attitude, the few but proud (sporting a small roster versus some teams that have up to 10 reserves on their bench). Baranowski has never favored a bloated roster just to increase the number of players.

With that economy of players can come more discipline and better-defined roles.

Who knows? Maybe even the date versus Mission Bay Friday night, Feb. 8, at home to finish the regular season holds a surprise for us. We would love it. We're hoping for it.

It could be Hulquist's, Hashemi's, and Wilson's final games at La Jolla High. Wouldn't that be a way to go out?

LJ b BB 52, Cathedral Catholic 59

By Ed Piper

La Jolla, in one of its dwindling chances to make a dent in the 2019 Western League basketball race, struggled with visiting giant Cathedral Catholic to a two-point lead early, then stayed within striking distance in never trailing by more than eight.

But closing the gap and tying the Dons and shot-swatter Obinna Anyanwu 45-45 early in the fourth quarter, the Vikings, characteristically since the turn of the year, failed to capitalize on their momentum, instead falling to a disheartening 59-52 loss Mon., Jan. 28.

It seemed like Cathedral (7-2 in league, 17-8 overall) was ripe for the upset, as an earnest La Jolla team (3-6, 10-14) battled on even terms early, down only 27-26 late in the second quarter.

"He (Anyanwu) is a good player, but our team did a good job," said Viking freshman Max Raulston, who attempted multiple shots inside against the 6'7" Anyanwu and 6'8" Dillon Wilhite. "We shut down a great team. We just didn't make free throws and take care of the ball."

Anyanwu had five blocks. Wilhite added four more.

Repeatedly, Vikings Diego Solis, Nick Hulquist, Raulston, and Christian Gamboa drove the middle, not without impunity but unhesitatingly. Solis, in a short appearance in the initial quarter, ended up sprawled on the LJHS gym floor on one attempt, but was rewarded with a pair of free throws in getting fouled by Obinna. (He couldn't sink either shot.)

With the score tied with 7:15 left on Hulquist's three-pointer, La Jolla quickly yielded a three, free throws by outside bomber Thomas Notarainni, and a bucket by the rangy Anyanwu for a seven-point deficit with 5:34 to play.

Raulston drove, was fouled, and made the first of two free throws, then Gamboa put a shot back up and notched a pair of free throws. The Vikings, before a small weekday afternoon crowd, were down 52-50 with 3:40 to play.

But they gave up points like flowing sand behind Notarainni's incessant aggressiveness. The guard is tall (6'4"), big, (195 pounds), and older than other sophomores (held back a year).

The Vikings had one last chance. Trailing by only five at 57-52 with 16.7 on the clock, senior Jett Wilson committed an offensive foul, turning the ball over and ending the threat.

Hulquist sank four three-pointers. Gamboa scored 16 points. Raulston had eight free throw attempts due to his aggressiveness. He made two.

Senior Behzad Hashemi hit a pair of three-pointers for a total of 10 points.

Notarainni led all scorers with 24 points, including three treys. Anyanwu had 19 on 9 of 11 shooting. He added 15 rebounds, 12 of those on the defensive end.

LJ wrestling: Optimism abounds

Zeke Pearl (L), Viking 122-pounder, is one of the
La Jolla freshmen who bode well for the future
of the program.
(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Those propelling the La Jolla High wrestling program aren't bragging to the community, but head coach Kellen Delaney and long-time coach Walter Fairley, Jr. rightfully feel a lot of enthusiasm and optimism over the present state of the Viking program, with prospects for the future.

"Zeke (Pearl) and Buzzy (Bomberger) are really good freshmen," said Delaney during dinner Friday night, Jan. 25, after the first day of competition for his seven traveling wrestlers in the enormous Holtville Rotary Invitational, which continued Saturday in the Imperial Valley desert.

Delaney, Fairley, and the others coaching the Viking wrestlers, including new assistants Mike Bomberger and Tyler Knigge, can also count on young athletes already involved in the pipeline in the La Jolla Youth Wrestling program, which LJHS alumnus Peter Doncek assists with.

"(Sophomores) Keegan (Leonard) and Chase (Maisel), and (junior) Joshua (Jasso) and (senior) Isaiah (Torres) have all improved a lot since they entered our program," Delaney added.

"Our babies are growing up!" enthused Fairley, who has played no small role in the Viking program ever since serving as an assistant principal on campus prior to his retirement three years ago.

The elder Bomberger wasn't able to be at the late dinner, nor Knigge, but the others talked within their circle about the possible incursion into Muirlands Middle School via a "showcase" or exhibition matches involving Pearl, Buzzy Bomberger, and his younger brother Ben Bomberger, presently in the seventh grade at Muirlands, at the grade-6-7-8 campus to start a program.

Buzzy Bomberger, in down position waiting
to start a new round, is another of the Viking
super freshmen. Buzzy wrestles at 115 pounds.

A week prior to the Holtville tourney, Delaney spoke of hopes for 15 or so high-schoolers to make the 130-mile jaunt, including overnight stay. However, with Jan. 23-24-25 being finals days, some parents balked at having their sons arrange for early exams--some which might have to be completed in one hour, instead of the normal two-hour exam time--and vetoed their participation in the tournament.

La Jolla wrestlers met on campus at 7 a.m. Friday, departing in various cars with coaches and parents at 8 a.m. Weigh-in at Holtville High commenced at 11 a.m., while first matches kicked off right at 1 p.m. Seven mats--five inside the domed gym, two outside on the adjacent basketball courts--were the setting for simultaneous matches throughout the afternoon on day one. Almost 400 high school wrestlers tried their skills against fellow athletes from Southern California and Arizona (Kofa).

Chase Maisel (R): "Our
babies are growing up!"--
Walter Fairley, coach

LJ wrestling: Jasso, Torres battle into consolation round

By Ed Piper

Joshua Jasso and Isaiah Torres, big physically at 197 and 222 pounds, respectively, but also big as far as their leadership role on La Jolla's wrestling team, battled into the consolation round of the prestigious 56th Annual Holtville Rotary Tournament Friday and Saturday, Jan. 25-26.

The tournament in Imperial Valley, drawing 390 wrestlers from 46 schools--the largest number ever, according to host coach C.J. Johnston--challenged Jasso and Torres, and afforded five other wrestlers from Coach Kellen Delaney's Vikings an opportunity for extended experience under competitive conditions on the mat.

Sophomore returners Keegan Leonard and Chase Maisel, carrying 134 and 140 pounds, as well as a trio of freshmen--Zeke Pearl, Buzzy Bomberger, and Alex Von Mueller--picked up additional rounds and coaching in the so-called "Hard Luck Bracket" after departing from the championship bracket on day one of the two-day event.

Bomberger, son of new Viking assistant coach Mike Bomberger, who made the 260-mile round trip as well, is a compact wrestler at 115 pounds. His close friend and mutual shadow, Pearl, competes at 122, while Von Mueller, brand new to the sport and who wanted to try it out this year, slots in at 128 pounds.

"We knew this year's athletes would be here and doing well," said Delaney, in his 11th year with the La Jolla program. "Buzzy and Zeke were in our La Jolla Youth Wrestling Program." All of the others except Von Mueller are returners.

A major feature of the Holtville event, in which not only the high school but also community members in the rural, 5,000-resident town take part, was the seven Viking student-athletes being hosted overnight in the home of Elisa Strahm and her husband.

Mrs. Strahm, a third grade teacher and mother of four middle school and elementary children, spoke about each visiting wrestler by name with a reporter after having just met them and fed them at dinner Friday night. Jasso, Leonard, and the freshmen presented their host mom with a plant as a thank-you gift, with assistant Walter Fairley's support.

A humorous aspect of the overnight stay, during which the hungry wrestlers who have been eliminated from the championship bracket usually eat hefty amounts of chicken, beef, rice and beans and other dishes prepared by their hosts, was that Buzzy, for one, related, "I ate a salad."

When a correspondent inquired why only the salad, Bomberger said the wrestlers had been told they had to limit their weight in preparation for weigh-in at 7 a.m. Saturday morning. Meanwhile, Pearl, his buddy, "ate six lasagnas (portions), instead of eating seven."

It turned out, though, that the younger Bomberger could have eaten all he wanted, because he was facing the Hard Luck Bracket in day 2. But Delaney said the coaches had been told Friday evening their Hard Luck wrestlers, as well as those still in the championship and consolation brackets, would have to meet the weight limits. When everyone arrived for the early weigh-in the next day, meet officials told them there was no weigh-in for Hard-Luckers.

Asked who told him to not eat more lasagna, Pearl said, "The captain." (It was Joshua Jasso.) Jasso defended himself: "He had to make weight (we thought)." Everyone had a chuckle over the non-weigh-in.

Elisa Strahm confirmed she had a lot of food left over from the La Jolla wrestlers' stay that she had expected them to gobble up. In any case, she and her husband enjoyed serving as one of 28 host families. She is the sister-in-law of Holtville High head coach C.J. Johnston, the host of the giant annual Rotary tournament.

LJ b soccer: Photos 1/24

By Ed Piper

 

LJ wrestling: Holtville tourney environs - Photos

By Ed Piper

 

 

LJ wrestling @ Holtville Tournament - Photos 1/25-1/26

By Ed Piper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LJ wrestling: Team time @ Holtville tourney - Photos

By Ed Piper