|
Napa rules the Valley
Napa High 154-pounder Wes Farley finds his world turned upside down against Vintage’s Steve Arrambide during the third annual King of the Valley Tournament at Justin-Siena on Tuesday night. Farley got out of the difficult hold and went on to win the match, 14-10. Jorgen Gulliksen/Register | Buy photos
Indians dominate Crushers, Saints, runner-up Braves
Share
Email
Print
CommentThe King of the Valley Wrestling Tournament, featuring four Napa County high schools, crowned a new champion Tuesday night.
Napa High School, a tournament-tested team that is rich in talent, won three straight matches in Justin-Siena’s Clark Gym to capture its first valley-wide tournament.
Napa High School, a tournament-tested team that is rich in talent, won three straight matches in Justin-Siena’s Clark Gym to capture its first valley-wide tournament.
The Indians started out with a 55-10 win over Vintage in a matchup of Monticello Empire League rivals. They also beat St. Helena, 47-24, and Justin-Siena, 51-22 in the four-team dual meet. They were presented with a trophy.
“I push these kids hard,” Napa coach Nacho Franco said. “We travel around to some tough tournaments. We have great kids, they work hard and today it showed. We wrestled really well. This win right here is big for us. I’m happy for them. It’s a good time in the season to get victories like this.”
“I push these kids hard,” Napa coach Nacho Franco said. “We travel around to some tough tournaments. We have great kids, they work hard and today it showed. We wrestled really well. This win right here is big for us. I’m happy for them. It’s a good time in the season to get victories like this.”
Justin-Siena went 2-1 for its best showing in the third annual event, a showcase of wrestling in 14 weight classes. In a battle of unbeaten teams, the Braves lost in their third and final match of the 41⁄2-hour night to Napa.
Two mats were set up in Clark Gym, with two team matches going on at once.
Two mats were set up in Clark Gym, with two team matches going on at once.
St. Helena and Vintage each went 0-2-1. The two schools faced each other in the final match of the round-robin dual format and tied, 42-42.
Founded by Justin-Siena coach Roger Bubel in 2006, the annual tournament has become popular in the wrestling community, with athletes, coaches and fans all looking forward to one night of continuous competition.
“It took a while for me to convince everybody the first year,” said Bubel, whose team was also presented with a trophy.
“It was very well attended, very well-wrestled,” Bubel continued. “Sportsmanship was very high, even though emotions run high when it’s one valley like this. It was great.”
Said Franco: “I think it’s great for the community and for the kids to all get together. And having a win makes it even better.”
An All-Valley team, made up of wrestlers with 3-0 records, was also selected. They received tournament T-shirts and were photographed together on one of the mats.
Napa was represented by Drew Alves (132 pounds), Conor Trombetta (162), Brandon Rogerson (173) and Charlie Schumacher (heavyweight). St. Helena landed Gustavo Rodriguez (114), Christian Benitez (121), Cole Westerland (142) and Gian Traverso (154) on the team. Also with four wrestlers was Justin-Siena, led by Felipe Jojola (105), Zachary Valentine (127), Corey Pestana (137) and Casey Tompkins (217).
Nick Miller (147) and Jeremiah Russell (191) made the elite team for Vintage.
“I thought they did great, really,” said Vintage coach Jim Lanterman, who is working with a very young team, many of whom are new to the sport. “There’s a lot of young kids and they got into a battle with the other Valley kids. We were able to change our lineup, too. You saw that we had a lot of kids here. We were not really worried about taking a title or anything like that. We were getting kids a chance to be on the mat.
“The more they get experience, the better they’re going to get. We wrestled most of these teams tough tonight. Justin and St. Helena ... we were right there with them. Their programs are solid. We thought we did really well.”
St. Helena coach Joe Luna said his team wasn’t at full strength due to some injuries.
“We definitely didn’t perform to our best,” said Luna. “But I take nothing away from the other teams. It’s important for our team to come together and wrestle the local people. It’s been a great tournament and we look forward to coming back next year.”
Traverso continued a very good season, improving his record to 25-1 with 19 pins. A CIF State Meet qualifier a year ago, he has won three tournament titles already.
“He’s just a real complete wrestler,” said Luna. “Everything he pursues he usually wins. He just never stops working hard. He’s just well rounded. He can pin people on bottom, he can pin them on top.”
Luna is expecting big things from Traverso — a non-placer at the state meet after going 1-2 last year — as the season continues. Traverso won by forfeit against Justin-Siena and won by pins against Napa and Vintage.
“If he wrestles well like he’s been doing, and just stays in it and controls the matches, he should be fine,” the Saints’ coach said.
In the other opener, Justin-Siena edged St. Helena, 36-34. Justin-Siena beat Vintage in the second round, 42-35.
For Napa, Alves won by pin, a 17-3 decision and a 21-5 technical fall; Trombetta won 8-1, by pin and a 14-1 decision; Rogerson had wins by pin and two by forfeit; and Schumacher won by pin, a 4-0 decision and pin.
“Napa deserves it. They work hard,” said Luna. “They’re a real strong team.”
Franco said the Indians’ program is all about hard work and making a commitment to the sport.
“I’m on the kids all year long,” he said. “To me, that’s what it’s all about, especially in a sport like this. It’s kind of where you plateau a little bit and you get your body to where it needs to be physically and mentally. And that’s where these kids are right now.
“Right now we’re ready for the postseason and that’s what all that hard work is all about.”
For Justin-Siena, which is off a 2-0 start in the Marin County Athletic League, Jojola and Valentine each had three pins; Pestana had two pins and an 11-6 decision; and Tompkins won 3-1, by pin and a 5-3 decision.
Rodriguez (19-7 decision, two pins), Benitez (three pins) and Westerland (forfeit and two pins) led the way for St. Helena.
Vintage’s top performers were Miller, who won 5-3, by forfeit and pin; and Russell, who won 8-5, by pin and forfeit.
Founded by Justin-Siena coach Roger Bubel in 2006, the annual tournament has become popular in the wrestling community, with athletes, coaches and fans all looking forward to one night of continuous competition.
“It took a while for me to convince everybody the first year,” said Bubel, whose team was also presented with a trophy.
“It was very well attended, very well-wrestled,” Bubel continued. “Sportsmanship was very high, even though emotions run high when it’s one valley like this. It was great.”
Said Franco: “I think it’s great for the community and for the kids to all get together. And having a win makes it even better.”
An All-Valley team, made up of wrestlers with 3-0 records, was also selected. They received tournament T-shirts and were photographed together on one of the mats.
Napa was represented by Drew Alves (132 pounds), Conor Trombetta (162), Brandon Rogerson (173) and Charlie Schumacher (heavyweight). St. Helena landed Gustavo Rodriguez (114), Christian Benitez (121), Cole Westerland (142) and Gian Traverso (154) on the team. Also with four wrestlers was Justin-Siena, led by Felipe Jojola (105), Zachary Valentine (127), Corey Pestana (137) and Casey Tompkins (217).
Nick Miller (147) and Jeremiah Russell (191) made the elite team for Vintage.
“I thought they did great, really,” said Vintage coach Jim Lanterman, who is working with a very young team, many of whom are new to the sport. “There’s a lot of young kids and they got into a battle with the other Valley kids. We were able to change our lineup, too. You saw that we had a lot of kids here. We were not really worried about taking a title or anything like that. We were getting kids a chance to be on the mat.
“The more they get experience, the better they’re going to get. We wrestled most of these teams tough tonight. Justin and St. Helena ... we were right there with them. Their programs are solid. We thought we did really well.”
St. Helena coach Joe Luna said his team wasn’t at full strength due to some injuries.
“We definitely didn’t perform to our best,” said Luna. “But I take nothing away from the other teams. It’s important for our team to come together and wrestle the local people. It’s been a great tournament and we look forward to coming back next year.”
Traverso continued a very good season, improving his record to 25-1 with 19 pins. A CIF State Meet qualifier a year ago, he has won three tournament titles already.
“He’s just a real complete wrestler,” said Luna. “Everything he pursues he usually wins. He just never stops working hard. He’s just well rounded. He can pin people on bottom, he can pin them on top.”
Luna is expecting big things from Traverso — a non-placer at the state meet after going 1-2 last year — as the season continues. Traverso won by forfeit against Justin-Siena and won by pins against Napa and Vintage.
“If he wrestles well like he’s been doing, and just stays in it and controls the matches, he should be fine,” the Saints’ coach said.
In the other opener, Justin-Siena edged St. Helena, 36-34. Justin-Siena beat Vintage in the second round, 42-35.
For Napa, Alves won by pin, a 17-3 decision and a 21-5 technical fall; Trombetta won 8-1, by pin and a 14-1 decision; Rogerson had wins by pin and two by forfeit; and Schumacher won by pin, a 4-0 decision and pin.
“Napa deserves it. They work hard,” said Luna. “They’re a real strong team.”
Franco said the Indians’ program is all about hard work and making a commitment to the sport.
“I’m on the kids all year long,” he said. “To me, that’s what it’s all about, especially in a sport like this. It’s kind of where you plateau a little bit and you get your body to where it needs to be physically and mentally. And that’s where these kids are right now.
“Right now we’re ready for the postseason and that’s what all that hard work is all about.”
For Justin-Siena, which is off a 2-0 start in the Marin County Athletic League, Jojola and Valentine each had three pins; Pestana had two pins and an 11-6 decision; and Tompkins won 3-1, by pin and a 5-3 decision.
Rodriguez (19-7 decision, two pins), Benitez (three pins) and Westerland (forfeit and two pins) led the way for St. Helena.
Vintage’s top performers were Miller, who won 5-3, by forfeit and pin; and Russell, who won 8-5, by pin and forfeit.
Join the conversation
Comment guidelines
All comments will be screened and may take several hours to be posted.
• Keep comments clear, concise and focused on the topic in the story.
• Comments exceeding 300 words will not be posted.
• Refrain from personal attacks, degrading comments or remarks that do not add to a constructive dialogue.
• Comments implying suspects in crime-related stories are guilty before they have been proven so in a court of law will be deleted.
• Do not post e-mail addresses or links except for pages on Napavalleyregister.com or government Web sites.
• Comments will not be edited - they will be approved or declined.
• Comments may be used in the print edition of the newspaper.
• If you feel a posted comment has violated our guidelines, please contact dross@napanews.com or bkennedy@napanews.com
For further information on the comment guidelines, click here.
|
|
youngblood wrote on Jan 23, 2008 4:54 PM:
youngblood wrote on Jan 23, 2008 4:59 PM: