By Head Girls Coach Michael Torres
Oxnard - The Fillmore High School Flashes boys wrestling team, coached by Manuel Ponce, competed at the Citrus Coast League (CCL) Finals on Saturday, February 7, as the Flashes collected two individual CCL Championships. Other schools competing in the event included Channel Islands, Nordhoff, Santa Paula and hosting team Hueneme.
In a tightly contested back and forth finals match that went down to the final seconds, junior captain James Alcantar claimed the CCL title at 132 pounds, by gaining valuable near-fall points in the final period to secure the victory over his Hueneme High School opponent.
At 165 pounds, senior co-captain Gonzalo Landeros not only captured the CCL championship but was also honored by the league with the Upper Weight CCL Most Valuable Player award and finished the season undefeated in the CCL. Landeros is also a three-time CCL Champion having captured titles in his sophomore and junior seasons.
Senior co-captain Tony Lemus (126 lbs.) had the title in hand with an 8-3 lead in the finals but was disqualified due to his Hueneme High School opponent being injured and unable to continue with what was deemed an illegal slam. He along with senior Emiliano Castanon (150 lbs.), and juniors Brendan Morales (175 lbs.) and Valentin Garcia (285 lbs.) each reached their respective finals, finishing as runners-up in hard-fought championship bouts. Senior Eddie Padilla rounded out the varsity scoring with a fourth-place finish at 215 pounds but did not qualify for post-season competition; he will be listed as an alternate.
With the top three finishers in each varsity weight class earning advancement, Fillmore will send six wrestlers to the Northern Division CIF Individual Championships, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, February 13–14, at Moorpark High School.
In the Junior Varsity competition, freshman Kobe Avila claimed the 215-pound title. Fellow freshman Abraham Castorena also competed in the JV bracket at 144 pounds and placed 3rd.