Local high school wrestlers are taking to the mat in big numbers
this month, as Analy and El Molino teams ready themselves for a
competitive campaign.
El Mo assumes dark-horse favorite role in SCL
When it comes to Sonoma County League wrestling, this could be
the year of the Lion. Under veteran coach Bill Borges, El Mo
captured second place in the SCL last year and took third at the
NCS Team Duals Tournament. The bad news for opposing teams is that
the Lions may be even stronger this season.
El Molino returns a bevy of outstanding talent, including
three-year junior star Blake Borges. The talented Borges has placed
second in league the past two seasons, advancing to capture fourth
at NCS at 119-pounds last year to quality for the prestigious State
meet. Moving up to 130 pounds this season, he’s a good bet for a
return trip to Bakersfield in March.
Other top returnees for El Mo are 105-pound senior NCS placer
Alena Caswell, sophomore reigning 105-pound SCL champion Logan
Fore, 145-pound senior league placer Tommy Krausmann, 135-pound
Section qualifier and team captain Vinnie Fuesz, 145-pound senior
Johnny Fuentes, senior 215-pound defending SCL champion Jared
Garner, 162-pound sophomore NCS qualifier Taryn Christiansen,
171-pound veteran Robert Coxon, and senior heavyweight Cameron
Mancini.
Other key grapplers include junior SCL JV placer Johnny Lopez,
sophomore 112-pounder Junior Vargas, 140-pound sophomore JV placer
Shiloh Cords, and senior 152-pound veteran transfer Jeff
Norton.
The Lions will also benefit from a strong group of first-year
freshmen looking to bolster a growing program.
Assisting head coach Bill Borges is a solid group of assistants
that include veteran coach Greg Dumas, Tyler Christiansen, Aaron
Fore, and Joe Dennison.
Analy hoping for
competitive season
The Tigers are also hopeful of making some noise on the mat
this year, as head coach Ryan Stevens returns to lead a relatively
young squad.
“Realistically, we’re in a tough league but would like to get at
least a couple of dual-meet wins and qualify two or three kids to
NCS this year,” said Stevens.
Analy returns 12 wrestlers, led by 125-pound senior NCS hopeful
Corey Schmitt. The four-year star has his sights set on an SCL
title this season and a possible medal at the Section meet.
Other returnees are 119-pound junior Kyle Doughty, 130-pound
third-year junior Mike Guerrero, 112-pound sophomore Austin Hay,
140-pound, four-year senior and NCS qualifier Mike Houlemard,
145-pound sophomore Kyle Nogelberg, 150-pound senior Wes Owens,
171-pound third-year junior Brian Northen, 119-pound Andres Rios,
and 189-pound second-year junior Martin Peterson.
Promising first-year grapplers include freshmen 103-pound Tyler
Hagle, 119-pound Blake Nogelberg, 125-pound Dylan Jones,
135-pounder Jackson McCormick, and 160-pound Kenton Slocum.
First-year sophomores are 145-pound Jordan Freeman, and 140-pounder
Avery Carter. 140-pound Sam Springwater is a first-year junior.
In addition, the Tigers return one of the top female grapplers
in the Section in second-year junior Marissa Wallace, an NCS placer
last season. She’ll be joined by four other first-year female
wrestlers that include 125-pound freshman Ashley Bowen, 171-pound
junior Hannah Conley, 135-pound junior Bella Mayer, and 160-pound
sophomore Laura Gross.
Tigers shine at
Novice tourney
Analy sent a contingent of 14 to the annual NBL/SCL Novice
Tournament at Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa on Dec. 4. Below
are the results for local wrestlers.
Novice Tournament
103 – Tyler Hagle (4-1, 3rd place)
112 – Marissa Wallace (2-1, 2nd place)
112 – Austin Hay (3-1, 3rd place)
119 – Blake Nogelberg (3-1, 3rd place)
119 – Andres Rios (1-1, 2nd place)
125 – Ashley Bowen (1-2)
125 – Dylan Jones (0-2)
135 – Jackson McCormick (3-1, 3rd place)
140 – Sam Springwater (2-2, 4th place)
140 – Avery Carter (0-2)
145 – Kyle Nogelberg (2-2, 4th place)
150 – Wes Owens (0-2)
160 – Kenton Slocum (1-2)
189 – Martin Peterson (3-1, 3rd place).
