By DICK SPARRER
Hard work has its rewards.
Jeremy Piamonte understands the concept. The Fremont wrestler has been working hard on the mat this season, and that hard work paid dividends last weekend in the 11th annual Gary Bianchini Memorial Wrestling Tournament at Cupertino High.
Piamonte, a Central Coast Section placer a year ago, won a title at Bianchini, leading the Indians to a place among the top 15 teams in the 28-team tourney.
Piamonte topped a list of four Fremont placers in the weekend tournament. Geoff Beckstrom, Joseph Ramirez and Jerrick Powell also won places to help the Indians to a team 12th.
Vacaville ran up 191 points to win the tournament crown with Del Oro second at 184. Cupertino finished with 74 points to finish 10th overall and lead the list of local Santa Clara Valley Athletic League entries in the event.
Wilcox was 11th with 70 points, followed by Fremont (69) in 12th, Monta Vista (61) in 15th, Los Gatos (46) in 16th, Palo Alto (37.5) in 19th and Lynbrook (18) in 25th.
Piamonte led the Indians with his title at 130 pounds. Beckstrom was fifth at heavyweight, and Powell at 160 and Ramirez at 189 both won consolation "B" titles.
In recent dual match action, Fremont dropped a tough 49-27 decision to unbeaten Los Gatos.
The Indians hung with the Wildcats through six bouts, but forfeits at 140 and 145 proved costly for Fremont.
The score was knotted 15-15 through six matches, but a couple of giveaways helped the Cats go up 27-15. Three pins in the next three bouts iced the win for Los Gatos.
Four first-round falls weren't enough for the Indians against the Cats. Vi Hang, Piamonte, James Hodgkiss-O'Neill and Beckstrom each pinned in the first round, but the Indians could manage just one other win in the match.
Los Gatos pinned at 103 pounds, but Hang came right back to tie the score with a pin 40 seconds into his match at 112 pounds.
Gatos followed with a decision win and a pin, but Fremont matched the LG effort.
Jamie Kashitani won 10-5 at 130 pounds and Piamonte pinned with 59 seconds left in the first round at 135 to tie the match 15-15.
The two forfeits and three pins but Gatos in control, though.
Fremont finished strong, thanks to Hodgkiss-O'Neill and Beck-strom. Hodgkiss-O'Neill pinned with 20 seconds left in the first round at 215 pounds, and Beckstrom took just a minute to pin at heavyweight.
Los Gatos improved to 3-0 in the De Anza Division of the SCVAL with the win. Fremont's league record is now even at 1-1.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, January 17, 1996
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