SALINAS VALLEY — Wrestling season is in full throttle, and some South Monterey County wrestlers are boosting their ranking with wins at high-end tournaments.
Soledad Aztecs have the highest ranked wrestler in South Monterey County, senior Donn Greer, who wrestles at 220 pounds. Greer is currently ranked first in CCS and eighth in the state of California, according to the CCS rankings.
So far this season, Greer has come in first at the Aptos Pat Lovell Holiday Wrestling Classic and second at Bakersfield’s Rumble for the Rig.
But for as good as Greer has been, his female teammates have been turning some head. According to the rankings, the Lady Aztecs team is ranked fifth in CCS.
Some of the highest ranked wrestlers are Johanna Harrell, No. 4 at 160 pounds; Dalila Rua, No. 2 at 170 pounds; and Arianna Mercado, No. 3 at 150 pounds.
Last weekend the Gonzales Spartans attended the Apple Cider Classic, hosted by Watsonville High School.
The Spartans had three wrestlers place in the Jan. 8 tournament. Andrew Zarate placed fifth at 285 pounds, Anthony Cisneros took eighth at 110 pounds and Carlos Alvarez earned eighth at 285 pounds.
The Lady Spartans participated in the La Manzanita Ladies Classic, also hosted by Watsonville, on Jan. 6.
Jozelyn Reyes placed second at 189 pounds, Natalia Villalobos earned second at 119 pounds, Vanessa Romero took third at 103 pounds and Cherish Yebra received third at 113 pounds.
One wrestler who didn’t participate last week for Gonzales was Gracie Leon, who is ranked ninth in CCS and has been impressive in her sophomore year. This year Leon has placed third at the Harbor Ed Ferrell Tournament and fourth at the Alisal Trojan Wrath Tournament.
