San Marino High School standout Luka Wick dominated his La Cañada opponent last week.
The San Marino High School varsity wrestling team won the majority of matches it competed in at La Cañada High School last week. Unfortunately for the Titans, it wasn’t enough as they forfeted too many contests in a 52-25 defeat.
SMHS won six of nine matches it competed in but forfeited five bouts, allowing the Spartans to pull away for the Rio Hondo League win. The victory puts La Cañada in the driver’s seat for the league crown.
“We’re still a little young,” said SMHS coach Eddie Aguirre. “We lost the Trumbo brothers last year. That was difficult, losing two returning CIF placers. We’re a little young and light this year as far as kids coming out to compete. I think this humbles us a bit and resets us for the postseason. I think we’re going to focus on the individual efforts this year and build a following that way.”
Koa Ruiz opened the match defeating Alex Mykalo, 12-7, in the 138-pound match, and Devyn Che followed that with a dominant 15-3 victory in the 145-pound bout. David Feffer (152 pounds), Luka Wick (160), Santino Sanchez (115) and Sean Han (121) each pinned their opponents.
Despite the defeat, Aguirre believes the team’s morale remains high, and the team is well aware that it has not peaked yet.
“We’re still ironing out flaws,” Aguirre said. “They’re nailing their technique and coming into their own. That’s been our primary focus. They’re building their own identity. Luka, he knows where he is going in a match. That’s what we’re trying to instill with the younger guys. They need to know where they’re going and how to finish.”
Che and Ruiz certainly gained more confidence at the MidCal Wrestling Tournament at Gilroy High last weekend.
Competing in the 132-pound bracket, Ruiz opened the tourney with a bye and then pinned Clayton McCarty of Dos Palos. The Titan went on to pin Julian Schmlinsky of Walnut Creek Las Lomas and Alex Bejarano of Clovis East before falling to Clovis North’s Ryan Franco. Ruiz rebounded in the consolation bracket with a 10-1 win over Poway’s Tharen Burns, advancing to the third-place match. The San Marino wrestler edged Gilroy’s Nathan Aguilar to place among the top three.
Che also finished among the top three in the 138-pound tournament by pinning Jackson Morgan of Granada. The Titan opened the competition four consecutive victories over Kent Huyunh, Anthony Ching, Conner Urbansic and Morgan. He was defated by Gilroy’s Henry Porter in the semifinals. Che rebounded with a 9-4 win over Palo Alto’s Dara Heydarpour and a second victory over Morgan in the third-place match.
San Marino will host Glendale Hoover in a league match today at 4:30 p.m.
