It seems like that's asking a lot, and not just because Fremont figures to be one of the top teams in the Central Coast Section this winter. But to ask the Chargers for a favor after what the Wildcats did to them last week? Please!

Still, Downs thinks there's a chance.

"They're pretty tough, and they may have a shot at beating Fremont in a dual match if they catch them right," said the Gatos coach just days after his Cats destroyed the Chargers 46-19.

A Wilcox win over Fremont would certainly help the Wildcats, who figure to face the Firebirds for the division championship on Feb. 10. But regardless of the outcome of Fremont-Wilcox match, Downs knows what his Wildcats have to do to win another De Anza Division title.

"The bottom line is that we can't expect anyone to best them for us," he said. "We have to do that ourselves."

Los Gatos has been beating everyone else in the division, and winning big. Wilcox was the most recent victim, and the Cats hope to make it four straight when they visit Monta Vista on Jan. 20, 6:30 p.m.

But the win over the Chargers wasn't as easy as it may have appeared.

"This was really a pretty good win for us," said Downs. "They wrestled us pretty well. They were not intimidated—they went right after us."

The Cats were actually behind 9-0 after a loss and a forfeit to open the night, but they won eight of the next nine bouts to take command.

Sophomore Naveed Bagheri moved into the 103-pound slot and pinned at 1:12 of the first round to get the Cats started. Senior Jake Shonig won a tight 2-0 decision at 112 before Jordan France pinned at 119.

After a major decision loss at 125, the Cats started to roll. James Alva (130) and Adam Nudelman (135) won on technical falls before Collin Sanders (140), David Bitter (145) and Mike Wysuph (152) each pinned.

Jeff Wysuph dropped a tough 4-3 decision at 160, losing in the final five seconds of the match, but Eric Chen came right back with a clutch 3-0 win at 171.

The dual match marked the end of the week for the Los Gatos varsity, but that wasn't all for the Los Gatos wrestling team. Gatos hosted the 26-team Wildcat Invitational on Saturday, and the Cats tied for first place in the frosh-soph tournament.

"It was neck and neck with us and Gilroy," said Downs, whose Wildcats tied the Mustangs for first with 226 points apiece. "The odds that two teams could tie like that—well, it's something I've never seen."

But tie they did, and Monterey finished a distant third at 157.

The Mustangs finished with seven champions, one fourth and one sixth, and the Wildcats managed three firsts, five seconds, two thirds, four fourths and a sixth.

Individual champs Calvin Hawkes (114), Geoff Doss (127) and Robbie Nakata (137)—all freshmen—led the Los Gatos effort. Adding seconds were Alan Howard (121), Sean Goodison (132), Eric Viale (154), Mitchell Benedetti (162) and Gurbaksh Sohal (173).

Matt Anzalone (100) and Nick Kalpin (191) were each third; Andrew Stanton (100), Loren Peterson (105), Danny Dill (132) and Josh Levinson (154) were fourth; and Jack Chang (173) was sixth.

"It was the third year in a row that we've won it," said Downs of the tourney, "and the great thing is that they were mostly freshmen."