2006-07 San Diego Section
Wrestlers to Watch


Holtville Invitational Recap
Brawley, Valhalla combine for seven champions

The high school wrestling season is rapidly heading to a close, with league, divisional and sectional championships looming larger every week. The end goal, of course, is to qualify for the 2007 state championship meet in Bakersfield the first weekend in March.

Several East County wrestlers continue to remain highly-ranked in their respective weight classes this season, as evidenced by the results of last weekend’s Holtville Invitational. Three Valhalla wrestlers emerged with weight class championships as the Norsemen left the desert with a seventh-place team finish.

Landon Holmes (112), Renzo Salazar (135) and Chris Thomas (189) each won weight class titles. Holmes, who entered the 2007 calendar year ranked fifth in his weight class in the state, defeated Imperial’s Casey Derrick, while Salazar defeated Escondido’s Mike Craig and Thomas defeated Imperial’s Cameron McNeer in championship-round finals to cap the two-day tournament on Jan. 27.

Thomas had received an honorable mention state ranking to open the 2007 portion of the season.

El Capitan finished the tourney with four place-winners, led by Garrett Ludwig's second place finish in his 130-pound weight class behind Brawley’s Ivan Arevalo, who was named the tournament’s Outstanding Lower Weight wrestler. Vaquero teammate Tony Sangermano finished sixth at 135 pounds while Jacob Dodge placed fifth at 145 and Philip Kelly was sixth at 171.

Brawley topped all teams with 252.5 points, followed by Carlsbad (second, 161.5), Escondido (third, 148), Rancho Buena Vista (fourth, 125.5), Rancho Bernardo (fifth, 110.5), Yucaipa (sixth, 99), Valhalla (seventh, 98.5), Imperial (eighth, 89.5), Eastlake (ninth, 67.5) and Shafter (10th, 67).

Brawley, which will be out to defending its Division III title, led all teams with four individual champions: Steve Elizalde (103), Robert Casteneda (125), Arevalo (130) and Chris Santana (140).

Carlsbad, which finished third at last year’s Division I finals, had two champions: Aron Gunner (160) and Jordan Taghvai (215).

Other San Diego Section champions included Morse’s Angel Garcia (119), Hilltop’s Javier Martinez (145) and RBV’s Trent Smith (285).

The finals appearance was the sixth this season for Martinez, who won previous weight class titles at the San Diego Holiday Classic and Falcon Invitational. He defeated Carlsbad’s Taylor Benson in the championship match to cap the two-day Holtville tourney.

Seven Metro Conference grapplers emerged with medals. Joining Martinez on the award stand was Lancer teammate Benz Seaton (fifth at 160 pounds). Four Eastlake wrestlers earned place-finishes: George Castilleja (sixth, 112), Tony Dengegall (third, 119), Lamar Dent (third, 125) and A.J. Romero (fifth, 171). Otay Ranch’s Sonny Garcia finished sixth at 160 pounds.

Eastlake, which normally features just two seniors in its lineup, finished ninth in the team standings.

“We’re improving every week,” said Titan head coach Troy Vierra, whose team was scheduled to meet Bonita Vista for the rights to first place in the Mesa League dual meet standings on Thursday. “I definitely believe we have several people who could win (individual) CIF titles. We have to wrestle our best and place as many guys as possible as a team (to place among the top teams).”

Eight-Way duals
Valhalla finished third, followed by Steele Canyon in fourth place at this year’s Rancho Bernardo Eight-Way dual tournament held Jan. 20 at Rancho Bernardo High School. Tournament organizers hope to one day make it the section’s dual meet championship tournament. In order to accomplish that goal, more of the area’s top teams need to send their varsity “A” units to compete.

Poway’s B team, which admittedly ranks higher than most of the section’s varsity teams, defeated Carlsbad 59-6 to win this year’s team title. Valhalla topped Steele Canyon, 34-31, in a rematch after the Norsemen had initially scored a 36-27 dual victory against the Cougars to open Grossmont South League competition on Jan. 4.

Carlsbad defeated Valhalla, 39-27, while the Norsemen recorded a 34-27 victory against Rancho Bernardo and scored a 54-21 win against a young La Costa Canyon squad.

Steele Canyon opened with a 65-6 victory a young Escondido club while subsequently topping Mission Bay by a 57-16 score before falling 66-6 to Poway’s B team.

Valhalla had six wrestlers medal at the tournament, including 189-pound weight class champion Chris Thomas.

Steele Canyon had eight medalists but none higher than third.

The Helix varsity tournament closes out regular season competition this Saturday.