The El Cajon Invitational remains one of the most iconic regular season boys wrestling tournaments, attracting top teams from within the San Diego Section as well as top out-of-region and out-of-state teams. The event has returned to its pre-Christmas roots and serves as a great backdrop for individual and team rankings entering the mid-point of the season.
This year’s tournament took place Dec. 15-16 at Montgomery High School. Liberty (297 points) won the team title while Granite Hills (288.5) stood out as the top team within the San Diego Section.
The Eagles won last year’s Division II section championship — the school’s first CIF wrestling title after many close calls — en route to a ninth-place finish at the state championship meet with two state medalists.
Head coach Jesse Sheard believes Granite Hills may be fielding its best-ever team this season.
Could be.
The Eagles recorded eight finalists, six weight class champions and 11 place-finishers (top eight) at last weekend’s ECI.
The El Cajon squad faced off the season by winning the team title over Brawley at the fourth annual Granite Hills Invitational on Dec. 2 and led section teams (third overall) at the ensuing Hamada Invitational Dec. 8-9 at La Costa Canyon.
Several grapplers have already notched lopsided records that are attracting attention.
Senior Collin Guffey improved to 16-0 after winning his 165-pound weight class at last weekend’s ECI. Guffey pinned Liberty junior Diesel Hanel (4-1) in 1:51 to keep his win-loss slate perfect on the season.
Senior Abram Cline improved to 15-0 after winning his 113-pound weight class by recording a 5-0 shutout win over Sahuarita sophomore Sebastian Serrano (24-5).
Senior Devon Wells improved to 15-1 after defeating Granite Hills junior Layronz Fraser (15-2) by medical forfeit at 144 pounds.
Senior Sergio Porras improved to 16-2 by capturing his 138-pound weight class with 2:24 pin of Poway sophomore Carlos Valdiviezo (12-6).
Junior Ryan Carroll improved to 15-2 after winning his 157-pound weight class by recording an 8-2 decision over Liberty freshman Zandon Hopson (18-5).
Other Granite Hills wrestlers with meaningful records to start the season include sophomore 106-pounder Emilio Escobar (12-2) and junior 190-pounder Joseph Smith (11-5).
Also advancing to the awards stand at this year’s ECI were Granite Hills wrestlers Cooper Fields (fifth, 150 pounds), freshman Jovanni Mansour (sixth, 175 pounds) and sophomore Damian Arreola (eighth, 120 pounds).
Guffey (second place) and Cline (third place) made a statement at last year’s state tournament.
Many more Eagles are making statements this season.
Guffey and Porras both finished 5-0 at last weekend’s mat tourney with five pins while Carroll finished 5-0 with four pins.
Wells finished 5-0 with three pins and one technical fall while Escobar finished 5-0 with three pins.
Cline finished 4-0 with three pins while Fraser finished 4-1 with three pins and one technical fall.
Smith finished 4-1 with four pins while Cooper finished 4-2 with two pins.
Mansour finished 4-3 with three pins while Arreola finished 5-3 with one pin.
Freshman Cayden Phillips finished 3-2 with one pin at 157 pounds.
EAST COUNTY ROUND-UP
Valhalla, which placed sixth as a team, had two finalists: senior Nathanial Anderson (second, 175 pounds) and junior Victor Gosswiller (second, 215 pounds).
The Norsemen also had four other place-finishers: freshman Uriah Hawkins (fifth, 120 pounds), sophomore Caden Spring (sixth, 113 pounds), Nona Marcelino (fifth, 165 pounds) and senior Alberto Perez (eighth, 285 pounds).
Anderson, who finished 4-1 and four pins, is 10-1 on the season while Gosswiller, who finished 4-1 with three pins, is 10-2.
Marcelino finished 6-2 over the two days with two pins while Hawkins finished 4-2.
West Hills had two place-finishers: senior Leylynd Mesina (fourth, 150 pounds) and Weston Druckerman (sixth, 157 pounds). Mesina finished 4-2 with three pins while Druckerman finished 4-3.
El Capitan junior George Spears (8-3) finished seventh at 138 pounds while El Cajon Valley senior Christian Carrera placed sixth at 215 pounds.
George finished 4-2 with three pins while Cabrera finished 4-3 with three pins.
El Capitan (84 points) placed 13th while West Hills (73 points) was 15th. Monte Vista (43 points) was 19th while El Cajon Valley (35.5 points) was 23rd. Steele Canyon (33 points) tied for 28th while Grossmont (32 points) was 30th.
Forty-two teams topped the entry list — 38 teams scored points.
Mountain Empire (22 points) placed 35th while Santana (17 points) placed 37th.
