Wrestling boys win NBL; girls 2nd in double header
It was a 69- 6 stunner (with six forfeits) for the Ukiah Wildcats over the Windsor Jags on Wednesday night as the local boys’ wrestling fortunes continued unabated through the entirety of the elite oak Division of the North Bay League.
Wrestling preeminence flexes and wanes over the years, but the Windsor fall- off has been precipitous. Two years ago, the Jags masterful mentor, Rich Carnation was elected to the school board, as his assistants attempted to steady the deeply embedded wrestling program in Windsor. We’ll know if this sinkage is permanent next year and not just a 2019-20 blip.
Wrestling fortunes flow with your influential standouts and charismatic coaches, so this isn’t a shock. If memory serves, Carnation drew two young Ukiah wizards of the mat down Windsor way several years ago that stung the local program.
Before the combat program began, Coach Adam Aikman delivered this touching tribute to Dom Columbini:
The Ukiah Wrestling Family recently lost a long a long time Member, Dom Columbini.
Dom and his wife, Arlene have been supporters of Ukiah Wrestling for decades; they are wrestling people. They are Ukiah. Their son, Brett, was a California State Champion and National Runnerup while at UkiahHigh. He was also two-time AllAmerican at the Univ. Of Minnesota and coached wrestling at UkiahHigh. Domwas present when Brett was inducted into the California Wrestling Hall- of-Fame.
Their grand-son, Beau, was a two-time state placer forWindsor High and now wrestles for Fresno State U. Dom was part of the Board of Directors- the three amigos:Norm Johnson,
Bruce Ledford, and Dom. Whether we were wrestling at the Coast Classic in Santa Cruz or the Sierra Nevada Classic in Reno, Dom was always in the stands; Arlene keeping the three amigos in line. The only time things got a little weird was when Beau was wrestling for Windsor and dom had a Windsor wrestling shirt on; “we forgive you, Dom.” Recently, I had a conversation with Brett, who called it the Golden Years; the years his dad followed wrestling.
It’s appropriate that Dom’s memorial was earlier today, the day of the Ukiah-Windsor wrestling match. I know Domwas in a front-row seat watching fromabove. We miss you, Dom! We would like to honor Dom Columbini and dedicate tonight’s dual to him. Our thoughts and love are with you, Arlene and the entire Columbini family. If you will please join me in a moment of silence. Thank you.
So, JV Cody White at 126 pounds led the parade with a quick fall in the first period over Victor Morfin of Windsor. Then, new standout, Jack Bednar muscled Logan Leno into a fall in 1:04 of the first round at 220 pounds. Payton McDonald clinically dismantled Kaden Winn for a fall after building an insurmountable 15- 4 lead at 106. Payton prevailed with strength as the minis tumbled over the entire mat, scoring take downs at will, as coach Thomas Fragoza urged him on, “finish that now.”
Joseph Marquez lost a close 6-3 decision at 120, and Casey Aikman prevailed over John Fredrickson, 10-9 at 126 pounds. At 132, Charlie Cliburn blew out Juan Borgal with a fall at 3:26. Victor Alonzo lost a squeaker to Kaeden Timmons, 7-9 at 138 and Adrian Alvarez at 172 dismantled Israel Higuera with a quick pin with 1:01 left in the first period. And the NBL Oak Division pennant was raised high by our wrestlers.
The Windsor girls were up to the challenge in the main gymagainst our local Lady Cats. But, it wasn’t until the final match when the decision came in: Lady Jags- 42, Lady Cats-36. There were about 20 girls wrestling for each squad, attesting to this being a major sport at both schools. The crowd, also equalled the boys’ boisterous bunch at about 60 folks.
After several early visitor pins and forfeits for the home team, Audrey Lancit busted out a fall at 120 with 55 seconds left in the first period. At 126, Freshman, Ukiah’s Reese Bartolomei and Windsor’s Fernanda Fernandez squared off as equals. But, the Lady Cat prevailed, stacking up several takedowns and a reversal for a 7-1 win. Super charged, Madison Riboli was awarded a forfeit at 131 for a 27-12 Ukiah edge. Windsor closed to 27-18 as Cassandra Torrez suffered a fall in the second period. Alma Marin for Ukiah was in trouble quickly and was pinned in the second period.
We forfeited at 150 and suddenly the Jags were up 31-27. Jollete Torrez applied a half nelson to turn over Crystal Rodriguez at 160 for a fall, and Ukiah was gasping at 2737. But, powerful and athletic Thea Krasts tackled her opponent, cradled her into a fall with 1:02 left in the first period at 170. The edge for the visitors was now, 37-33.
Reliable Stephanie Gutierrez toasted Maribel Opinero, 17- 6 for a major win at 191. 37-37 tied up. Finally, at heavyweight, our Samantha Maki was surprised in the second round when her opponent tilted her into a fall. Windsor prevailed, 43-37.
Wildcats Win Duals Saturday, at Rancho CotateUkiah’s sterling 2019-20 varsity wrestling squad swept the annual Division II North Coast Section dual meet Saturday, February 8th for the second straight year; collaring Lower Lake, 47-23; whipping Fortuna, 57-24, and finishing off Del Norte HS, 50-27. Willits HS won in Division III, with Clear Lake third. In the East Bay section of NCS, De La Salle won division 1 with Grenada 2nd, James Logan 3rd, and Freedom 4th. In Division II, the primary competitors to Ukiah High; Northgate was first, Benicia second, Las Lomas third, and Alhambra fourth. NCS championships will be held at James Logan High School in Union City, February 21-22.