LJ wrestling: Long, illustrious history at Holtville Tourney

By Ed Piper

Noah Pace, Victor Franklin, and the other five Viking wrestlers who fought in the 62nd Annual Holtville Rotary Invitational this past weekend (Jan. 30-31) resumed what has been a parade of warriors going back at least to the 90's.

After a six-year gap (since 1990), first-year head coach Joey Stofko led seven wrestlers into the tourney. They are building on a foundation that reveals the recent history of the La Jolla High program, topped by Juan Sanchez, who in 1999 was named the Outstanding Wrestler for the lower weights at 114 pounds in the Holtville competition.

LJ b wrestling @ 62nd Annual Holtville Rotary Invitational - 1/30

Photos by Ed Piper

Viking Victor Franklin (134 pounds) defeats

his first opponent, Luis Blue (far left)

of Olympian, with a fall in 3:28.

Franklin pins Blue, then after winning a second

match by decision has to take a medical forfeit

for a concussion. Victor, a junior transfer from

Temecula Valley, goes the farthest of any

La Jolla High wrestler in the tournament

this year.

Vikings' Noah Pace sits out in trying to avoid

further points by his second-round foe,

Zephyr Audubon of Carlsbad, under

the domed Holtville High gym. The structure

was built in 2006.

Noah Pace (122) is tied 4-4 in his second match,

then succumbs 13-5 to Zephyr Audubon (bottom)

of Carlsbad with a medical issue. It was the

second round.