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In this file photo, Brawley Union High's Cortez Gonzalez (top) battles with Central Union High's Abisai Lopez in a quarter finals match during the Imperial Valley League Championship at Brawley Union High on Feb. 6 in Brawley. Representatives of both teams qualified for State competition. (FERNANDO ACOSTA JR. PHOTO / February 25, 2013) |
After two demanding days of wrestling some of CIF-San Diego Section’s top competitors, six young men representing Brawley Union, Central Union, and Holtville highs have reserved a place for themselves at the State meet, to be held the weekend of Mar. 1-2 at the 10,000-seat Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.
Fronting this elite group are Brawley junior Vincent Elizalde and Central senior Micah Perez, both of whom won their individual weight classes. Elizalde, who wrestles at 108 pounds, is a first-time Masters titlist who described his final match on Saturday last as “personal” and one he “wasn’t going to lose.” Perez, on the other hand, fulfilled his own prophecy and visited the top of the podium for a third time.
Perez’ younger brother, Antonio, feels that he, too, could have taken first in the 145-pound division but instead injury-defaulted to finish second. In Masters competition, it is only the top three placers per weight class who are guaranteed advancement to State, but Antonio’s season has come to a close.
Back in mid-January, Perez unknowingly fractured his foot at an invitational in Temecula. Initially, doctors had informed him that he had merely sprained his ankle. Perez knew something was “wrong”, however, due to the “lingering pain” which continued to plague him, even after he had given himself what should have been the right amount of time to heal.
To his credit, the junior was able to wrestle through the discomfort, only to find out a few days after CIF competition that in actuality, his “minor” injury was actually a cracked ankle. Still, he was undeterred and soldiered on, refusing to rest until he had secured a spot in the top three. Only then did he fault out.
“So no, I won’t be competing at State,” he said, “but I wanted to be a three-peat qualifier. I’m not really sad or anything. It’s my brother’s senior year and I think it’s better if I support him instead of focusing on myself. I’m going to look back on what I can do to improve for my senior year. I believe I can go on to be a State champion.”
Fellow second-place finisher Lonzie Osuna made it to State last year but failed to place. He has run out of tomorrows to look forward to, however, as this weekend will be his last as a Brawley wrestler. Despite the high stakes and the level of competition which he will be facing, Osuna is surprisingly casual about the whole affair. That is not to say that he is taking it lightly—just that he has a different method of approaching it.
“I’m going to give it my all,” he declared. “I have nothing to hold back. But I’m not gonna think about the pressure. I’m approaching it like it’s a normal tournament. That’s the way I’m looking at it.”
Also making the trip to Bakersfield will be Holtville senior Jose Sandoval (222), Brawley sophomore Isaac Moreno (115) and Holtville junior Lance Angulo (287).
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