El Mo to host NCS Duals tourney Feb. 10.
Championship wrestling is all about achieving peak performance at the right time, as athletes with state aspirations attempt to run the gauntlet of top-flight competition.
Analy and El Molino wrestlers will try to do just that this month, finishing up the dual meet schedule before turning their attention to the all-important postseason tournaments.
Both teams navigated a tough stretch in SCL action on Jan. 31, with El Molino dropping a 60-15 decision at Sonoma Valley, while Analy was dispatched at first-place Petaluma, 70-12.
“With the league realignments next season, this was our last ever SCL meet and likely the last with the Dragons for a while,” El Mo coach Ron Wright said. “Once again there were several forfeits on both sides. We lost 60 to 15, but with the matches we actually wrestled we did fairly well, splitting the wins at three apiece.”
Recording mat wins for the Lions were 114-pound Erik Dimond (by 11-0 major decision), 120-pound Asher Weathersbee (by fall) and 182-pound Sire Clark (by 7-5 decision).
“Freshman Erik Dimond stood out to me, he wrestled a freshman from Sonoma and he really showed how much he’s improved in his first year. He showed he’s ready to be pushed and challenged at the next level. The kid loves wrestling and is willing to put in the work to get better,” he added.
On Saturday, the Lions were well represented at the Redwood Empire Classic Tournament hosted by Ukiah High School, an event that included varsity, JV and a girl’s tourney running simultaneously.
Varsity wrestlers included 108-pound Dimond (0-2), 172-pound Coleman Hayes (1-2) and 182-pound Clark, who suffered a serious injury that may end his season.
“Sire went out in his second match with a knee injury that ended his day and likely his season,” Wright noted. “All I can say is he left it all on the mat.”
Representing El Mo in the JV tourney were Weathersbee (2-1) and Zavier Grech (0-3). Wrestling well in the girls tournament were senior Angelica Schmeichel (0-3) and freshman Hannah Ricioli (1-2).
The Lions will host the North Coast Section Redwood Empire D2 and D3 Duals Tournament this Saturday, Feb. 10 (9 a.m.). Some 16 teams are expected to compete in the double elimination team tournament.
Tigers notch wins
Analy wrestlers enjoyed their share of competition this week, with 120-pound Logan Bailey and heavyweight Alex Perreira both recording wins by fall over Petaluma opponents.
On Saturday, the Tigers sent a small contingent to both the high-level Mission San Jose Tournament and Redwood Empire Classic.
Senior 122-pounder Trevor Bagan continued his quest for a second state bid at the Mission San Jose tourney, going 4-1 to take third place. Brother Preston Bagan was not to be upstaged, going 4-1 in the 115-pound weight class.
In addition, 132-pound Jimmy Carreras went 1-2 in varsity competition at the Redwood Empire Classic, while JV teammates Logan Bailey (1-2) and Lorenzo Robles (0-2) also wrestled for the Tigers. Melita Millward (0-1) and Carlos Mendoza (0-1) fell in round robin matches.
