The school’s varsity boys wrestling team took first place at the Bill Martell Invitational, sponsored by Northgate High School, on Saturday, December 13. With 4 individuals placing 1st in their respective weight classes, the team secured the 1st place trophy for the 1st time in 10 years.
“It all just came together,” coach Randolph Jiminez said.
The point-based tournament was divided into 14 different weight classes, assigning 1 wrestler to each division.
First place finalists included varsity captain senior Duncan Tormey, varsity captain senior Enrique Calderon, freshman Chris Jiminez and junior Joey Buckley. Also placing in the tournament were sophomore Wesley Oribello (third), senior Kevin Tsou (fifth), junior Thomas Fennel (sixth), junior Doug Tomlinson (sixth) and sophomore Max Wiederholt (seventh). This left the team with a dominant win.
“I was very surprised that we won as a team, seeing [as] we’ve never done that before,” Duncan said. “We had more placing wrestlers than ever before, especially with the addition of [new members] Joey and Chris.”
According to coach Jiminez, the team wrestled its hardest and made a statement.
“From the freshmen all the way up to the senior guys, they looked at every match like it was the last one in the tournament,” coach Jiminez said.
According to senior Parker Spielman, the team creates a very “positive learning experience.”
“There is a sense of teamwork and bonding that takes place between the team,” Parker said. “When one person is wrestling, everyone else is there supporting him.”
For the first time in several years the team has nearly had a full lineup, filling all the weight classes. The multiple wrestlers in each weight class have prompted each individual to work his hardest at practice, further strengthening the team.
“We wrestle because it is the most intense sport out there,” Parker said. “You have to commit yourself completely, whether [at] practice, matches or on the mat.”
The team hopes to be as successful in upcoming league championships in Palo Alto on Saturday, February 14 and CCS, which takes place from Friday, February 27 to Saturday, February 28.
“If we keep training, I think we can do really well in league and CCS,” Doug said.
The team continues to work out at practice daily and has three remaining tournaments before the end of the season.
“We’re not slowing down with the tournaments, we’re not slowing down with our drilling,” coach Jiminez said. “We’re also doing more detail and technique specific drills.”
According to coach Jiminez, intense wrestling at practice takes place during the beginning of the week, leaving the team well rested and ready to go for matches at the end of the week. With the exception of the many injuries the team has had to endure, the season has played out nicely for the Eagles.
“Overall the season is going really well,” Duncan said. “We hope to come into leagues strong and send as many people to CCS as possible. We also hope to have some state qualifiers.”
Broken fingers, shoulder and elbow injuries as well as concussions have recently hurt the team, but individuals are recovering quickly. These recent injuries are not hurting the team’s intensity; however they have made it hard for wrestlers to meet weight requirements and continue its normal practice routine.
“We’ll definitely pull it together before CCS and will go into league finals really strong,” coach Jiminez said.
Coach Jiminez has high hopes for the team as a whole, and placed special emphasis on Enrique, Duncan and Joey.
“I think they will really pull through [at CCS],” coach Jiminez said. “We’re definitely going to have some stars.”