Gilroy boys win 20th team title in a row

Central Coast Section

Guys: Gilroy’s depth pays off

Gilroy missed three of his top wrestlers for the CCS Championship Masters Meet including Cody Merrillthe defending state champion in the 195-pound division who is out this season with a hip flexor injury, according to coach Gilroy Daniel Cormier. But Gilroy’s depth was impressive Saturday in Watsonville. The perennial powerhouse qualified 10 of his 11 wrestlers for the California Interscholastic Federation state championships Thursday through Saturday in Bakersfield, and the Mustangs won their stunning 20^e straight CCS championship team title with a score of 279. “They’re so committed to keeping that record,” Cormier said of his team’s CCS title streak. “It feels really good when you wrestle with 11 kids and 10 in the final. They want to win.” Gilroy had six weight class champions. The top three placers in each division advanced to the state championships. …One of the best matches in the tournament was in the 126-pound final of Gilroy Elijah Cortezranked No. 1 in the state in its weight distribution by thecaliforniawrestler.comfacing St. Francis’ Bryce-Luna, ranked fourth in the state. Cortez defeated Luna 2-1 in triple overtime. “He’s so strong mentally,” Cormier said of Cortez, whose twin brother Isaiah won the 120-pound title. He is also ranked No. 1 in the state in his division. Gilroy’s other championship victories were achieved by Moses Mirabal (138), Maxximus Martinez (152), Micah Doug Porter (170) and freshmen Coby Merrill (195), Cody’s brother. … Another outstanding finale pitted the state’s No. 1 ranked wrestler at 132 pounds (Sobrato’s Aden Valencia) against the state’s second-ranked Daniel Zapeda from Gilroy. Valencia used a second period breakaway to beat Zapeda 1–0. …Los Gatos had a school record of three division champions and qualified nine wrestlers for the CIF state championships. The Wildcats also finished second as a team with 228.5 points, the narrowest margin a team has managed since 2009 against Gilroy (50.5 points) in the CCS championships. “I’m so proud of these kids,” Los Gatos coach said Greg Varela said. “They’ve really taken a step.” Division championships were achieved by Los Gatos’ Antonio Rodriguez (113), E. J. Parko (145) and Dylan Stack (160). … Another local division winner was Branham’s Clarence Moore in the 106-pound division.

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Girls: Evergreen Valley makes it two in a row

After winning the first girls’ wrestling team title last year, Evergreen Valley repeated as champions with a score of 213 at Saturday’s CCS Championship Masters Meet in Watsonville. Sabrina Tran defended her 106-pound title and teammate Katianna Martinez added a title at 189. The Cougars had finalists in seven weight divisions. … Gilroy was number two on the team with 133 points, but had the most division champions with four. Tamara Grace (126), Mary Jane Porter (131), Valerie Glenn (137) and Kaiulani Garcia (150) all won titles. … Other local division winners were those from Presentation Abbeygael Cabuag (101), Menlo-Athertons Kiely Tabaldo (111) and Wilcox’s Perla Hernandez (160). … The top four places in each division qualified for the Thursday-Saturday CIF State Championships in Bakersfield.

Central Coast Section boys

Team standings (top five)

Gilroy 279, Los Gatos 228.5, St. Francis 109.5, Palma 96, Fremont 91.

Championship results

106: Clarence Moore (Branham) d. Dominic Bozanic (Gilroy) 4-2

113: Antonio Rodriguez (Los Gatos) d. Hayden Ancheta (Monta Vista) 4-0

120: Isaia Cortez (Gilroy) d. Mark Justin Ramirez (Fremont) 8-0

126: Elijah Cortez (Gilroy) d. Bryce Luna (St. Francis) 2-1, 3 OT

132: Aden Valencia (Sobrato) d. Daniel Zepeda (Gilroy) 1-0

138: Mozes Mirabal (Gilroy) d. Matthew Luna (St. Francis) 5-0

145: EJ Parco (Los Gatos) d. Ethan Gonzales (Palma) 13-4.

152: Maxximus Martinez (Gilroy) d. Jojo Andrade (Palma) 8-2.

160: Dylan Stack (Los Gatos) d. Travis Grace (Gilroy) 4-2

170: Micah Doug Porter (Gilroy) d. Diego Robles (Bellarmine) 15-0 TF

182: JC Escutia (Palma) d. Juan Carlos Puga (Gilroy) 3-1 OT

195: Coby Merrill (Gilroy) d. Sasha Nyzhnyk (Los Gatos) 15-5

220: Marco Silva (Greenfield) p. Joseph Wynn-Wilson (Terra Nova) 1:00

285: Josaiah Escalante-Aranda (San Benito) d. Hung Vo (Silver Creek) 7-4

Central Coast Section girls

Team scores (top five)

213 Evergreen Valley, 133 Gilroy, 124 Salinas, 92 Alisal, 82 Wilcox.

Championship results

101: Abbeygael Cabuag (Presentation) d. Madison Heinzer (Green Valley) 7-6

106: Sabrina Tran (Evergreen Valley) p. Mia Gonzalez (Cupertino), 2:41

111: Kiely Tabaldo (Menlo-Atherton) d. Ailynne Acosta (Salinas) 9-0

116: Isabel Garcia (Alisal) p. Mikayla Putich (Evergreen Valley) 2:58

121: Danica Kelley (Scotts Valley) pg. Helene Jose (Gunn) 2:00