2006-07 San Diego Section
Wrestlers to Watch


Metro Conference Midseason Report
Martinez carrying the torch for Hilltop Lancers

Posted Jan. 18, 2007
First-year Hilltop High School wrestling coach Thomas Juarez is taking the 2006-07 season in stride. That is, anything above expectation is bliss.

The Lancers captured last season’s South Bay League title and went on to claim the San Diego Section Division II team championship. However, due to massive graduation, expectations are not to match last year’s accomplishments.

As much of an optimist as he might be, Juarez is also very much a realist.

Hilltop placed seventh at the season-opening 27-team Mar Vista Battle by the Beach tournament, finished seventh among 28 teams at the ensuing Mira Mesa Marauder Invitational, were eighth at the 24-team Monte Vista Invitational and placed 17th at the 52-team Falcon Invitational this past weekend.

“When you graduate nine seniors, it’s obviously a rebuilding year for us,” said Juarez, a former prep standout at Montgomery High School and collegiate standout at CSU Bakersfield. “At this point of the year, we’re likely not going to win a CIF title. I just want us to have the best 14 wrestlers we can for dual meets and the (upcoming) league finals. If we can get past Mar Vista (the teams were to wrestle Thursday in dual competition), we’d have a strong chance to win the league title.”

While the team may continue to develop as a whole, some wrestlers on the squad are ready to seize glory — Javier Martinez, in particular.

Martinez has qualified for the championship finals in every tournament in which he has competed this season (five), winning two. His latest triumph came at last Saturday’s Falcon Invitational at Mission Hills High School when he defeated El Camino’s Joey Rash by a 10-4 decision to win the 145-pound weight class.

The Hilltop wrestler completed the two-day tournament 5-0 with two pins. He was seeded first in his weight class.

In previous finals matchups this season, Martinez lost 7-1 to Poway’s Kea Reynolds at the Mar Vista tournament, lost by pin to Mt. Carmel’s Aaron Murphy at the Mira Mesa tournament, defeated Rancho Buena Vista’s Cody Fanning by a 7-2 score at the San Diego Holiday Classic and dropped a 10-0 major decision to Poway’s Hawk Ruis at the Monte Vista tournament.

Martinez owned a 19-4 record following the Monte Vista Invitational on Jan. 6.

“From the beginning of the season, he’s improved tremendously as far as his intensity in practice and his performance,” Juarez said in regard to Martinez, the top grappler on this season’s Lancer squad thus far. “His ability level is determined in the wrestling room. He’s determined he wants it. He wants the opportunity to wrestle at state. He’s probably the top contender in San Diego County among 145-pounders.”

Martinez was one of two Hilltop place-winners at the Falcon Invitational and one of four Lancers to earn a berth on the award stand at the Monte Vista Invitational.

Todd Garrison finished eighth at 140 pounds at the Falcon Invitational. Garrison, along with teammates Andy Galata (135) and Benz Seaton (160), placed fourth at the Monte Vista tourney.

Joining Martinez atop the award stand at the Falcon Invitational was Montgomery’s Pedro Tapia (first, 125). The Aztecs had two medalists, with Geddy Hemesath placing fifth at 135.

Eastlake had three medalists at the Monte Vista Invitational: Tony Denegall (third, 125), Hawk Thompson (fourth, 145) and A.J. Romero (fourth, 171). The Titans also had three wrestlers place at the Falcon Invitational: Lamar Dent (fourth, 125), Thompson (third, 145) and Romero (sixth, 171).

Mar Vista had two placers at the Falcon Invitational: Allan Delos Reyes (sixth, 119) and Tommy McLaughlin (fifth, 215).
Two Metro Conference wrestlers medaled at 160 pounds at the Falcon Invitational: Otay Ranch’s Sonny Garcia (fifth) and Southwest’s Adrian Castellanos (eighth).

Londos Invitational
•Chula Vista had two wrestlers earn place-finishes at the 32-team midseason classic: Artemio Corral (seventh, 119) and Lupe Corral (eighth, 189).

•Montgomery had three placers: Tapia (second, 125), Hector Hernandez (sixth, 130) and Hemesath (eighth, 135).

•Otay Ranch’s Zack Petrin was eighth at 171..