Almaden Resident

Sports

Garg nails a 14-second pin to lead Leland at Stampede

By Dick Sparrer

Geoff Wellington was no doubt looking forward to start of the league wrestling this week. Why wouldn't he? The Leland coach has a talented young team ready to compete in the West Valley Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League after an impressive non-league season.

The Chargers finished second in the Leigh Stampede Dual Tournament, thanks to the efforts of sophomores Sean Dickson, Justin Hsu and Andrew Garg, and they also finished with their fair share of placers at the Silver Creek JV/Frosh Tournament and the Lynbrook Novice Tyro Challenge.

Dickson, Hsu and Garg were each undefeated, and each won medals in leading the Chargers to a team second at the Leigh Stampede. Garg, a heavyweight, also won a medal for the fastest fall of the tourney, pinning an opponent in just 14 seconds.

Freshman Benny Lemus won an individual title at 145 pounds at the Silver Creek tourney. Adding second-place efforts were Maurice Alexander at 135 pounds, James Betts at 112, Aaron Carrera at heavyweight and Da Bin Choi at 160. Carrera is a junior, and the other three are all freshmen.

Dickson chipped in with a fourth at 135 pounds, and sophomore Anthony Fortino was fourth at 103.

Junior Jovan Munoz (112 pounds) and senior Bruce Reynolds (140) were each third at the Lynbrook Tyro Challenge.

Seniors Roberto Garcia and Mitchell Truan, juniors Louis Carleton, Michael Garcia and Diego Grant, sophomore Austin Noftz and freshmen Marcus Lara, Jeremy Lee and Nicholas Lee are other members of the Leland squad this winter.

The Chargers were to open the dual match season against Yerba Buena and San Jose Academy this week and will return to action when they head to Willow Glen on Jan. 17, 6:30 p.m., to face the host Rams and Live Oak.