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First they were battling for the dual match championship in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League tournament. Then they fought it out for the title at the SCVAL wrestling finals.
And this weekend Los Gatos and Fremont will be at it again. But this time, they won't be alone.
The Wildcats and Firebirds are among the team title favorites heading into the Central Coast Section mat finals set for Feb. 2526 at Overfelt High School in East San Jose. But unlike the days of SCVAL competition, it will be more than a two-team race.
"Four teams probably have a shot at it," said Los Gatos coach Scott Downs looking ahead to the race for the team title at CCS. And Gilroy may have the best shot of all, he added.
Still, Fremont and Los Gatos are right there in the running, and the veteran Gatos coach figures that St. Francis could have an outside shot at the crown.
It's individual talent that will drive Fremont toward the top.
"They have four kids, maybe five, who definitely should be in the finals," said Downs of the Firebirds. "And three [Boris Navochkov at 105, Filip Navochkov at 114 and Greg Crane at 154] should win it."
For Los Gatos, Gilroy and St. Francis, it could be more of a numbers game.
At least it will be for the Wildcats. Los Gatos qualified 13 wrestlers for CCS, and Downs figures that they will all have to contribute points if the Cats are to win the title.
"It's going to be because of the wrestle-backs if we do win this," Downs said. "We need all 13 wrestlers to make the second day, we need to get the pins we usually get in the early rounds, and nine or 10 wrestlers have to medal."
Downs feels that Gatos has a few wrestlers who could make the finals--Jake Schonig at 105, Jordan France at 121, Mike Wysuph at 154 and Eric Chen at 173. He adds that Adam Nudelman at 137 and Nick Gaffney at 217 are other key performers.
Dan Montanez of Monta Vista is another CCS contender, wrestling at 162 pounds. He'll be joined by teammates Alex Kodagura at 121 pound, Jack Lai at 132, Nate Fung at 137, Grant Kodagura at 114, and Eric Katz at 147.
Cupertino's Bronson Farr at 217 pounds, Aris Harutyunyan at 142, Renato Linares at 152, Steve Plotnikov at 132, Renato Sanchez at 127, David Joyner at 147 and Paul Kim at 162 will also make the CCS trip along with Homestead's Carlos Ayala at 137 pounds, Matt Ott at 142, and Trent Lee at 217.
The top four placers at the CCS tournament will advance to the state meet in Bakersfield on the first weekend of March.
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