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When the season began, Willow Glen wrestling coach Phil Luna was looking forward to "Senior Night" as an opportunity to show some appreciation to the 15 seniors who have given so much to his program over the years.
He still is ... it's just that there are no longer 15 seniors in the program.
Only six seniors remain on the squad as Luna prepares for Senior Night, when his Rams host Oak Grove on Jan. 23, 6:30 p.m., in their final home match of the year in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League (BVAL).
A number of wrestlers have quit the team as seniors this winter, but Luna is very proud of those seniors who have remained involved, especially Amir Faraj-Perry and Daniel Cousino.
"They've kept this team together as much as they could," said Luna. "These guys stuck it out, even though their friends quit. I'm real proud of them."
Adrian Morales quit the team for personal reasons, but he returned to the mat last week in time to win an individual title at the Jim Root Classic.
Cousino, Faraj-Perry and Morales will be honored on Senior Night this Thursday along with Jason Grossman, Phuc Nguyen and Naim Casos.
The Rams had expected to contend for the Mt. Hamilton Division championship, but because they now forfeit at so many weights they are 0-3 in league competition. Willow Glen lost 48-33 to Santa Teresa last week, forfeiting away 24 team points.
Cousino and Grossman each won on technical falls to lead the Willow Glen effort against Santa Teresa. Junior Ricardo Hernandez won 18-4 at 145 pounds, with forfeits going to freshman Daniel Keil at 152, junior Robert Oropeza at 189 and Faraj-Perry at 215.
Willow Glen battled back last weekend to finish fifth in the team standings at the Root tournament at West Valley College.
"The team rebounded," said Luna. "I'm really happy with these guys. We're a great, great tournament team."
Morales won a title at 171 pounds, with Faraj-Perry at 215 and Cousino at 160 both finishing second. Faraj-Perry has not finished lower than second in a tournament this season, and Cousino has not finished lower than third.
"[Faraj-Perry] is just a leader for us—he sets the tempo," said Luna. "And [Cousino's] hard work has paid off for him."
Junior Sam Olivas was third at 125 pounds for the Rams, with sophomore Eugene Martinez fifth at 135, Oropeza sixth at 189 and junior Rueben Rodriguez seventh at 130.
A week earlier, the Rams had nailed a team eighth in the 24-team San Ramon Invitational. Seconds went to Olivas at 125 and Faraj-Perry at 215. Cousino was third at 160, and Rodriguez was fourth at 130.
Two Rams placed last weekend at the Los Gatos frosh-soph tournament. Kiel, a freshman, was third, and sophomore D.J. Faraj-Perry was sixth.
Win, lose and draw
The Presentation girls soccer team pushed its record to 4-1-1 in the West Catholic Athletic League with a win, a loss and a tie last week.
The Panthers blanked St. Ignatius 2-0 to open the week. Goals by Danielle Cifelli and Danielle Alongi off assists from Jennifer Tuttle and Aubrey Ellzey keyed the win.
Alongi and Ellzey each scored goals, and Tuttle, Taylor Numann and Laura Keenan had assists, but the Panthers could manage just a 2-2 against Valley Christian.
The Panthers suffered their first loss of the year on Saturday when they were shut out 1-0 by Notre DameBelmont.
Rams win three
The Willow Glen girls basketball team won three games last week, pushing its record to 4-1 in the West Valley Division of the BVAL.
Edna Sison poured in 30 points to lead the Rams to a 62-45 win over San Jose, and she came back with 21 in a 39-34 win over Yerba Buena.
Maja Johnson scored 16 points in a 68-17 win over Overfelt. Sison added 11 points, Candace Gallegos hit 10, Mikka Dixon hit nine and Diana Schnabel added eight.
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Photograph by Niki Desautels