By Dick Sparrer
There's nothing easy about the competition facing the wrestling teams in the tough De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League this winter.
And you'd get no argument on that score from the wrestling team at Los Gatos.
The Wildcats are winless in their first two dual matches in league action, falling first to a tough Wilcox squad and then last week to perennial powerhouse Cupertino.
And it doesn't get any easier for the Cats. They'll host Monta Vista in a dual match on Jan. 15, 6:30 p.m., and the Matadors are coming off a win over Santa Clara and a solid finish at the Gary Bianchini Memorial Wrestling Tournament at Cupertino.
It's a year that features strength from top to bottom in the division, and Los Gatos and the rest of the teams in the circuit are discovering there are no easy matches in league competition this season.
Los Gatos actually did quite well against Cupertino last week, winning six matches. But the Wildcats still dropped a 47-27 decision to the Pioneers to slip to 0-2 in league action and to 4-6 for the year.
Cupertino won the first four matches of the night before Jeff Ouellet broke the string of 'Tino victories with a pin at 1:27 of the first riound at 130 pounds.
But the Pioneers answered back with four more victories to take control of the match.
Still, Los Gatos finished strong. Gatos won the last five straight bouts in the match.
Dan Barber nailed a 9-4 victory at 160 pounds before Rohner Segnitz pinned at 2:50 of the second round at 171.
Fred Luminoso battled into overtime to secure an 8-6 win at 189 pounds and, after Kyle Smith won by forfeit at 215, Steven Belsheim pulled out a 4-2 overtime win at 275 pounds.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, January 15, 1997.
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