Prep Wrestling: Sultana qualifies 13 to CIF

APPLE VALLEY • With five state-ranked wrestlers, the 113-pound weight class will arguably be the toughest at the CIF-Southern Section Individual Eastern Division Championships on Feb. 17-18 at Oak Hills.

Apple Valley’s Robert Romo and Sultana’s Slaytr Gonzalez — both of whom are ranked in the top 16 in the state — got ready for that test by facing each other in a tournament for the second weekend in a row at the Mojave River League Finals on Saturday.

Last week Gonzalez pinned Romo in the third period of the Dick Comly Invitational semifinals, but on Saturday Romo scored a decision in the final 20 seconds to win 4-2 and claim his second league title in a row.

Romo, who tore both his MCL and ACL during the summer, knocked off Oak Hills’ Michael Santiago in the semifinals with a technical fall and was named the lower-weight MVP.

“He had a strong headlock, and that’s how he got me last time,” Romo said. “He got me in a headlock, and I couldn’t get out. So this time I got under him a little more and (used) a fireman’s carry. I’ve been working hard on that.”

Even with Gonzalez’s loss, Sultana continued its individual tournament success with 13 CIF Individual qualifiers, six league champions and 11 finalists.

“Keep qualifying, that’s all that matters,” Sultana coach Rocky Humphrey said. “Just qualify.”

Quincy Godina (106 pounds), Trent Smith (120), Corey Griego (152), Matthew Williams (160), Zachary Williams (220) and Jeremiah Pele (HWT) each came away with an individual title. Griego and Zachary Williams won league championships for a second time, and Pele was one of several wrestlers not seeded first to win a title.

“I wanted that. I want to win (a league title) four times,” said Griego, a sophomore ranked second in the Southern Section at his weight.

Oak Hills’ Robert Marchese (195) won the upper-weight MVP award after pinning both of his opponents. He earned his second straight MRL title and improved to 35-0 on the season.

“It’s a big thing winning the Mojave River League,” Marchese said. “I remember my first year losing in the finals, and sophomore year I didn’t get the chance because we were freelance. I had to wait two years to do it. It’s always a good feeling winning a tournament, especially this one because we do have some tough teams.”

Marchese was the only league champion for Oak Hills, but the Bulldogs are sending eight to the postseason. Six of them were finalists on Saturday.

Hesperia, which finished second to Oak Hills in the league dual season, qualified the second most individuals with nine and tied with Apple Valley for second most champions with three.

J.D. Gutierrez (132), Kenny Ortiz (138) and Frank Francis (145) won league championships for the Scorpions.

“It’s an improvement from last year,” Hesperia coach Brian Sloat said. “Even the guys that lost, they wrestled well. Everybody stepped up to the challenge. You have to at this tournament.”

Hesperia’s Anthony Roybal, who was a state qualifier last year, didn’t wrestle due to medical reasons. Sloat said he doesn’t know the diagnosis yet.

Apple Valley has eight CIF qualifiers. Besides Romo, Anthony Henson (126) and Anthony Ballinger (182) also brought home league titles.

Shaun Donley (170) was Serrano’s only champion, and the Diamondbacks qualified four to CIF.

CIF-SS Qualifiers
106 — Godina (Su) major dec. Jac. Gutierrez (H), 11-2; 3rd: Hawkins (A).
113 — Romo (A) dec. S. Gonzalez (Su), 4-2; 3rd: Santiago (O).
120 — T. Smith (Su) pinned Aguilar (O), 3:30; 3rd: Balsitis (Se).
126 — Henson (A) pinned R. Gonzalez (Su), 5:00; 3rd: Shurtliff (H).
132 — J.D. Gutierrez (H) major dec. Gajus (O), 10-2; 3rd: Barragan (Su).
138 — Ortiz (H) dec. Hernandez (Su), 9-7; 3rd: Clift (A).
145 — Francis (H) pinned O’Neil (O), 3:20; 3rd: Hanson (A).
152 — Griego (Su) pinned Culpepper (O), 3:07; 3rd: Flores (H).
160 — M. Williams (Su) major dec. Pettus (H), 13-2; 3rd: Freeman (A).
170 — Donley (Se) dec. Rodriguez (A) 14-8; 3rd: Bollinger (Su).
182 — Ballinger (A) dec. Porter (Su), 4-1; 3rd: Hernandez (O).
195 — Marchese (O) pinned Melendez (Su), 2:26; 3rd: Rodriguez (H).
220 — Williams (Su) pinned Quezada (H), 1:25; 3rd: Mena (Se).
HWT — Pele (Su) dec. Gillham (O), 4-2; 3rd: Robles (Se).

C.J. Daft can be reached at christiand@vvdailypress.com or (760) 951-6275.