The El Molino girls wrestling team continued to hone their skills at Menlo-Atherton High School on Nov. 24 at the annual Bear Bash Tournament, scoring big wins against solid competition.
The tournament featured 124 wrestlers from 18 schools, including teams from the North Coast, Central Coast, Oakland, San Francisco and Sac-Joaquin Sections.
Representing the Lions were 131-pound freshmen Lynnea Olson, 160-pound freshman Ardenne Chevrolet and 160-pound sophomore Hannah Ricioli.
Ricioli, by far the most experienced of the three wrestlers, used the tournament as an early season litmus test after putting in extensive work during the off-season.
The work paid off, as Ricioli made quick work of her first three opponents, scoring three first round pins. Her fourth match came against a talented junior from Salinas who she has seen wrestle in the past. The seasoned Ricioli was more than up to the challenge, recording a 16-5 major decision victory.
“This match would be the test that Hannah needed to see where she was at,” Wright said. “You could see the confidence in her ability really come through.”
Ricioli faced Sierra Van Rossem from Newark Memorial, the 2017 NCS Champ and 2018 NCS runner-up, boasting a current record of 26-7 with 24 pins.
The pair traded take-downs and near-falls, with Ricioli pressing hard and put the state qualifier on her back. But the referee would grant Van Rossem an injury time-out, effectively stopping Ricioli’s momentum.
“The break in the action put a stop to Hanna’s momentum, and she wasn’t able to pull out the win, but she let everyone know how good she is,” Wright said.
Ardenne “Chevy” Chevrolet wrestled to a 2-2 record and earned a fourth-place medal. Chevrolet opened the tourney with a 10-4 win over her San Leandro opponent and scored a 19-second pin against an opponent from San Lorenzo. As a first-year wrestler, she more than held her own against similar opponents.
“Chevy, with her never ending smile, is in a sport where many try to keep a tough look on their face,” Wright noted. “She has such a positive spirit and is very supportive of her teammates.”
Olson squared off against some experienced wrestlers from Benicia and Half Moon Bay in her bracket, showing both improvement and potential.
“Lynnea is an aggressive wrestler, and once we get her the experience she needs to finish matches, I am confident we will see her hand raised a lot this year,” El Mo coach Ron Wright said.
The Lions will be back on the mat at Vallejo High school on Saturday, Dec. 1, for a JV boys and varsity girls tournament.
Tigers ready to roll
The Analy Tigers have a new look and direction under first-year coach Francisco Manriquez this season, taking over from the long-time coaching family of Ryan, James and Jimmy Stevens.
The Tigers feature a strong core of varsity returnees, led by senior state qualifier Preston Bagan. Other top returning veterans include senior league and NCS hopeful Jimmy Carreras, sophomores Logan Bailey and Lorenzo Robles, both looking to make their mark in league and NCS.
In addition, Analy is bolstered by the return of sophomore NCS qualifier Zach Fogg.
JV wrestlers will feature talented freshman Henry Baggett, junior Carlos Mendoza, freshmen Carson Hay and Brayton Bartlett.
“Although our team is small in numbers, we have the right wrestlers in the room,” Manriquez said. “Our student-athletes keep a positive attitude and take the opportunities they are given. We look to grow Analy wrestling for the long run and make a positive impact in the community. My goal is to turn these young athletes into great citizens,” he added.
