Arenas, Fakaosi win Central Coast Section wrestling titles
Pioneer to hold Hall of Fame induction
Lincoln produced a winner in both the boys and girls Central Coast Section wrestling championships on Feb. 22.
Adam Arenas won the third CCS title of his outstanding high school career. Arenas was the 126-pound champion after winning the 120 title last year and the 106 crown as a freshman.
In this year’s championship victory, Arenas won by injury default over Gilroy’s Jayden Gomez at the 2 minute, 11 second mark of the 126-pound final.
“I wish it would’ve been a different way on winning it,” said Arenas to this publication’s Vytas Mazeika. “But I got a lot of congratulations, I’m happy and now I get to celebrate with my family.”
The top three placers in each division of the CCS boys competition, and the top four in the section girls championships, qualified for the California Interscholastic Federation state championships this week at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield. Competition began on Feb. 27 after this publication went to press.
Bellarmine’s Joseph Orlando edged Evergreen Valley’s Christian Antonio to win the 132 final. Orlando was the No. 4 seed in the division entering the tournament.
Westmont’s Michael Huh also qualified for the state tournament with a second-place finish in the 106 division. Also placing second was Bellarmine’s Zane Hake in the 170 final.
In the CCS girls tournament, Lincoln’s Eleni Fakaosi dominated Half Moon Bay’s Esmeralda Mendez to win the 137 title with a 9-0 major decision. Fakaosi
was the No. 1 seed at the tournament and moved on to the state championships. She is joined by teammate Vanessa Gutierrez, who placed fourth in the 143 division.
Boys basketball
Willow Glen reached the Central Coast Section Division II quarterfinals with a 60-36 victory over Lynbrook on Feb. 22.
The fifth-seeded Rams played at No. 4 Woodside on Feb. 25 after this publication went to press. The semifinals were Feb. 27 and the final is on Feb. 29.
Bellarmine, the No. 3 seed in the Open Division, advanced to Feb. 26’s semifinals with a 59-43 victory over No. 6 Sacred Heart Prep. It played No. 7 St. Francis on Feb. 26. The final will be held at 8 p.m. Feb. 28 at Maples Pavilion.
Girls basketball
Leland, the No. 4 seed in the CCS Division II playoffs, hosted No. 5 Hillsdale on Feb. 25 in a quarterfinal matchup after this publication went to press. The semifinals were on Feb. 27, and the final is on Feb. 29.
Willow Glen, the No. 6, also reached the Division II quarterfinals with a 44-37 victory over No. 11 Prospect on Feb. 22. The Rams traveled to face No. 3 St. Francis on Feb. 25. Presentation, the No. 1 seed, faced No. 8 Woodside on Feb. 25 in a quarterfinal matchup.
Boys soccer
Leigh and Branham both reached the CCS Division II playoff semifinals. Leigh, the No. 2 seed, edged No. 7 Los Altos 2-1 on Feb. 22 in the first round and hosted No. 6 Mt. Pleasant on Feb. 26 after this publication went to press. The final is Feb. 29.
Branham, the No. 1 seed, shut out No. 8 Los Gatos 3-0 in the first round on Feb. 22 and hosted No. 5 Wilcox on Feb. 26. Jaeson Gonzalez, Carter Thompson and Kenneth Esquivias produced the Bruins’ goals against the Wildcats in a game in which Branham took a 2-0 lead in the first half.
Del Mar moved on to the Division IV semifinals with a 4-3 win over Seaside on Feb. 22 in the first round. The match was tied at two at halftime. Del Mar, the No. 2 seed, hosted No. 3 North Salinas on Feb. 26. The final is on Feb. 29.
Bellarmine, the No. 3 seed in the Open Division playoffs, traveled to face No. 2 Watsonville in a semifinal matchup on Feb. 25. The final is Feb. 28 at Santa Clara University’s Buck Shaw Field. Bellarmine reached the quarterfinals with a 3-0 victory over No. 6 Leland on Feb. 22 in the first round.
Girls soccer
Leigh, the No. 4 seed in the CCS Open Division playoffs, defeated No. 5 Carlmont 3-1 on Feb. 22 and traveled to face No. 1 Archbishop Mitty in a semifinal matchup on Feb. 25 after this publication went to press. The final is Feb. 28 at Santa Clara University.
Hall of Fame
Pioneer is holding its first Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony and dinner on April 30 at Almaden Country Club. The inductees are Terry Oakes (class of 1962), Dave Righetti (’76), Robin White (’82), Lisa Green (’86), Dave Hoffmann (’88), Steve Hoffmann (’91), Michelle Fanger (’93), Julie Crandall (’94), Miguel Montes (coach) and Dick and Randee Sparrer (contributors).
The ticket price is $75 per person.
There will be a no-host bar from 6-7 p.m., dinner from 7-8, the presentation from 8-10 and pictures/no-host bar from 10-11. To purchase tickets, go to https://gofan.co/app/ events/81527. For more information, contact Pioneer Athletic Director Joe Berticevich at jberticevich@sjusd.org or 408535-6310 ext. 65212.