By Dick Sparrer
Reaching the second day of the Central Coast Section wrestling championships is half the battle.
But it's that second half that separates the section's best wrestlers from the rest of the pack.
And Tim Heinrich of Westmont proved that he's among the section's best. Because not only did he make it to the second day, but he wrestled his way into the finals for the second straight year.
Heinrich placed second at 152 pounds to qualify for the state tournament. Only the top four placers in each weight class advance to the state tourney in Stockton on March 7-8.
It will be Heinrich's second straight trip to the state tournament. The Westmont senior finished second in CCS at 135 pounds a year ago, and advanced to state competition.
He'll go back to state after another second-place finish at CCS, this time up three weight classes at 152 pounds.
Heinrich won his way into the CCS finals, only to lose a tough 3-0 decision to a Palma wrestler. It was the only loss of the tournament for the Westmont star.
Heinrich was one of two Westmont wrestlers to place the CCS finals. Sophomore Phat Dinh ended up second at 112 pounds for the Warriors.
Dinh battled Cupertino star Bobo Do in the fight for fifth place and lost an 11-10 heartbreaker to settle for sixth.
Heinrich advanced to the CCS tournament after finishing second in his weight class at the rugged Blossom Valley Athletic League tournament. He lost a tough 4-2 decision to Shawn Hembry of Del Mar in the finals.
Dinh came through with a remarkable effort at CCS. Only the top seven placers would advance out of the league tourney, and he earned a section berth with a sixth-place finish in the BVAL. But despite his low qualifying spot, he managed to match that finish at the rugged CCS tournament.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, February 26, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.