Two weeks ago, San Marino High School’s Luka Wick received a cowboy hat for winning his weight class at the prestigious Doc Buchanan wrestling tournament in Clovis. Apparently not satisfied with that accessory, the junior added a belt to his wardrobe this past weekend when he basically pinned his way through the competition at the Battle for the Belt, another gathering of wrestling’s elite, that was held in Temecula.
Wick decked his first five opponents in the 145lb. weight class, staying on the mat for the duration only during the title bout against Rowland’s Alex Ramirez, who Wick defeated 4-2 to win his coveted belt.
Along the way, Wick registered pins over Anthony Perez of La Costa Canyon in a minute and 12 seconds; Parker Howe of Ventura in 1:55; Tommy Beringer of Vista Murietta in 4:56; Matt Rodriguez of Righetti 1:11 and Cade Lucio of Bakersfield, who lasted 1:43 against the champion.
Wick was also named the tournament’s Champion of Champions, which added a ring to his wardrobe. The Champion of Champions ring goes to the best of the best for all weight classes as voted on by the tournament’s coaches and, as usual, Luka is not the first Wick to wear one. In fact, the three Wrestling Wicks have now won five belts, as older twin brothers Zander and Evan won their weight classes their sophomore and senior years at San Marino High School, in Januarys 2014 and 2016. Evan Wick was named Champion of Champions in 2016.
“I thought I would get a little tired because I had cut weight, but I actually felt better, quicker,” said Luka Wick, who also won his bout on Monday night as the Titans defeated Monrovia by a score of 48-12.
Luka is currently ranked #2 in the state at 145 lbs. and eight of the top ten in California were in the field at Temecula. Earlier this season, he won the Carter Classic and finished second in the Reno Tournament of Champions.
It’s probably no easy feat to wrestle in the substantial shadow cast by his twin brothers, who each won four Rio Hondo League and CIF titles while at SMHS before accepting full-ride scholarships to Wisconsin.
“Oh, yeah,”the typically reserved Luka exclaimed when asked if he is motivated by his brothers’ success. “In a good, fun way.”
He then shared a story about one of his brothers texting him when he was eliminated from the CIF tournament as a freshman about how Luka couldn’t be a four-time winner.
“Later that year, I wrote back ‘I may not win CIF four times but I can place in state four times,’” Luka said with a laugh.
All we know for sure: A larger trophy case is probably in store for the Wick Family and additions could be made as soon as this school year.
