Willow Glen Resident
Sports
Tie is like a win for Rams in wrestling
By Kevin Sparrer
There is nothing sweeter in sports than coming from behind to steal a win away from an opponent.
The Willow Glen wrestling squad was able to do just that against Pioneer when they fought back from 30 points behind due to forfeits at 103, 119, 125, 130 and 160 pounds.
The Rams battled back, and despite a couple of losses, were able to end the match in a 39-39 tie to rob the Mustangs of a victory.
Oswaldo Michel at 140 pounds and Freddy Betancourt at 145 each pinned their opponents to add 12 points for Willow Glen.
Eliso Anaya won a decision that added three points to the Rams' total, and Bobby Lopez won with a first-round pin to bring the Rams six points closer.
All hope seemed lost before first-year wrestler senior Uriel Basilio won with a pin at 189 pounds to bring the Rams within striking distance.
Luckily for the Rams, the Mustangs also had a couple of forfeits with no upper weight wrestlers and the match finished in a draw.
"I've never been more proud of these kids than this night," said Willow Glen head coach Steve Lopez. "They left their hearts and souls on the mat, and what should have been an easy victory for Pioneer wound up being an amazing comeback by Willow Glen.
"If both teams win out, then there will be a co-championship between Pioneer and Willow Glen."
Willow Glen were to visit Live Oak on Jan. 31 before hosting Gunderson on Feb. 8 for the final dual match of the season in the West Valley Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.
The Rams also came back against Leland on Jan. 17 after starting 12 points down due to forfeits at 103s and 130s.
The Rams immediately began their comeback when Francisco Vargas quickly pinned his opponent in the first round at 171s.
Basilio battled against a three-year varsity wrestler, but came up short at 189s.
Jose Gutierrez and Omar Hernandez caught the Rams up with quick first-round pins at 215 and heavyweight.
Luis Vargas added even more points with an early pin in the second round of his match at 112.
The Chargers took the lead back with wins at 135 and 140, but it wasn't over yet. Betancourt at 145 and Bobby Lopez at 152 pushed the Rams far ahead enough to eliminate all the Chargers' chances mathematically with two first-round pins.
Eliso Anaya added a pin of his own in the beginning of the second round at 160s.
Anaya and Vargas each had some success at the San Ramon Tournament recently, finishing fifth and seventh respectively.
Rams basketball
Willow Glen's boys basketball team had some success last week, defeating both Sobrato on Jan. 26 and Leland on Jan. 23. The Rams are now 7-1 in the Santa Teresa Division and 15-5 overall.
The Rams were able to hold Sobrato to only two points in the second quarter as they rolled to a 53-36 win.
Kyle Schroeder did the majority of the scoring for the Rams with 22, including six at the line, while Brian Chunn helped with 10. Steven Skavdahl had nine with two free throws and a three while both Billy Hahn and Anthony Rodriguez had six points.
Against the Chargers, it was Skavdahl who led the attack with 19, including five buckets from outside the arc. Schroeder was also there with 18, including three free throws and a three-pointer. Jimmy Renneke had eight and Hahn had seven with one three.
The Rams' girls basketball team struggled a little bit, dropping two games last week in the Santa Teresa Division. Willow Glen fell to Oak Grove 71-32 on Jan. 25 and Prospect 66-37 on Jan. 23.
Samantha Tsukiji led Willow Glen with 10 points, including a pair of threes and two points at the line. Alyssa O'Brien was next with seven, including six points from outside the paint and one at the line. Brittany O'Brien was right there with six, Stephanie Serna had four, Hayley Tharp had four with a free throw and a three and Anna Russo added one at the line.
Against the Panthers, it was Tharp who did the majority of the scoring with 14, including four three-pointers. Serna had nine, Nadia Conroy had five with a three, Tsukiji had four and A. O'Brien and B. O'Brien had two apiece.
