Local high school wrestlers will be gunning for peak performance this Saturday, Feb. 17 when they take the mat in the Sonoma County League Championship Tournament hosted by Healdsburg.
Matches will be contested in both Smith Robinson Gymnasium and Frost Hall on the Healdsburg High School campus, with the action starting at 9 a.m. and the finals expected to take place in the afternoon.
The goal for most participants will be a top-three finish in their respective weight class, good for advancement to the North Coast Section Championships on Feb. 23-24 at James Logan High School in Union City. The prestigious California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) state championships will take place March 2-3 in Bakersfield.
On Feb. 10, the Lions hosted the North Coast Section Team Duals Tournament, a competition featuring some 200 athletes and pitting the top teams in the Redwood Empire across two divisions.
The Lions, which finished third in the Sonoma County League, competed in Division 3, falling to St. Patrick/St. Vincent in the first round and Hoopa in the consolation round. Cardinal Newman beat Willits to capture the D-3 tourney, while Windsor defeated Ukiah for the D-2 crown.
“The tournament ran smoothly thanks to the volunteer parents, El Mo wrestlers, and students who worked the tables, snack shack and sold merchandise,” El Mo coach Ron Wright reported.
El Molino was also represented at the NCS Girls Wrestling Championships in Albany, with 145-pound senior Angelica Schmeichel going 2-2, including a pin, while freshman teammate Hannah Ricioli went 0-2 in the 139-pound weight class.
“Angelica had the best tournament ever,” Wright said. “She had her first pin in two years of wrestling. “Josh (Wright, assistant coach) and I are extremely pleased with how they wrestled and proud of their efforts this year.”
Tigers wrestle Dragons
The Analy wrestling team wrapped up its league dual meet season on Feb. 7 against visiting Sonoma Valley, falling to the Dragons, 64-12.
The meet was shortened by numerous forfeits, with just four varsity matches being contested on the mat. Recording wins for the Tigers were 115-pound Preston Bagan and 122-pound Trevor Bagan. 134-pound Jimmy Carreras lost by a 10-2 decision while Carlos Mendoza lost by fall. In the JV competition, Logan Bailey recorded a win by fall while Zach Fogg lost by fall.
Stevens awarded Coach of the Year
Longtime Analy coach and high school Spanish teacher Ryan Stevens was recently named the National Federation of High Schools 2016-17 California Coach of the Year for boys wrestling.
Stevens, who has struggled with debilitating health issues for the past few years, was nominated by the CIF as the most deserving recipient of this honor. The award is given annually to those who are “leaders in their sport, shaping their athletes and contributing in a positive way to their community.”
