Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Krall wins, Durham pins to pace Leigh to mat win over Piedmont

By Dick Sparrer

David Hernandez wasn't exactly sure what to expect when he took over the wrestling program at Leigh this winter.

He wasn't quite sure about the talent Leigh was returning to mat from last year's team, and he wasn't exactly sure how good the newcomers would be.

He knows now.

And even through it's just a couple of weeks into his first season as the Leigh coach, he's happy with what he sees.

"They're young kids, but they're willing to work hard for me," Hernandez said. And the hard work has already paid off.

The Longhorns opened the 1997-98 league season with a rousing 41-25 win over Piedmont Hills in the West Valley Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.

Veteran Kevin Krall topped a list of nine Leigh winners in the bout with the Pirates.

Krall, who Hernandez said "shows the most promise for this season," rolled to a decision win at 215 pounds to help Leigh to the win over Piedmont.

Adrian Durham nailed a pin at 160 pounds in the Leigh win, and five other Longhorns won by decision--Chris Matthissen at 103 pounds, Tony Thomson at 112, Ted Villanueva at 135, Tuc Nguyen at 145 and Brian Bruckerner at 170.

Adding forfeit wins for the Longhorns were Justin Frank at 245 pounds and David Montanez at 189.

Along with those wrestlers who were winners against the Bucs, Hernandez looks to sophomore Zach Nelson and freshman Michael Legois as top prospects for the future.

"They both show amazing ability to learn moves," he said.

In other local wrestling action, Los Gatos dropped a 48-21 decision to Bellarmine to slip to 6-4 in the dual match season.

The Wildcats could manage wins in just four of the 14 weight classes, but three of them were by fall.

Kyle Smith nailed a quick pin with just 27 seconds remaining in the first round at 215 pounds for the Wildcats.

Rohner Segnitz and James Pease each came through with second-round pins against the Bells. Segnitz pinned 30 seconds into the second round at 170 pounds, and Pease pinned with 16 seconds remaining in the second at 112.

Fred Luminoso pulled out a hard-earned 11-10 decision win at 189 pounds to round out the list of Gatos winners.

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