It took nearly as long to get home from the Sierra Nevada Classic in Reno as the Escalon wrestlers spent on the mats in the two-day tournament.
Competing on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 28 and 29, the Cougars, their coaches and some parents were then caught in one of the biggest storms to hit the area in years.
"We wrapped up the tournament Wednesday night about eight," explained head coach Derek Scott. "A few people had made it out a little before that but they were calling us and by 9:15 p.m., they were only six miles out of Reno."
Thursday proved to be no better, the team trying to make a run for it but finding their way hampered by blizzard conditions.
"We just went back to the hotel," Scott said.
Friday, the weather cleared enough for the slow trek back over the mountains, with wrestlers making it back into town about 4 p.m., said Scott, in time to welcome in the New Year at home.
"Everyone made it safely," he added.
In the tournament itself, Myles Bishop was the only wrestler to place, finishing seventh at 135 pounds with a 6-2 record.
"I was really happy with how the team wrestled," Scott added. "We had three guys make it to the second day, Kevin Machado, Ryan Lippincott and Myles, plus we had Brian Toy and Jesse Jimenez making it to the last match of the first day."
The Sierra Nevada Classic this year featured 90 teams from five different states, so the Cougars got a good look at many of the West's top grapplers.
"We showed a huge amount of improvement," said Scott.
Brian Toy went 2-2 for the tournament at 103 pounds, Atom Garcia was 0-2 at 112 and Ryan Ashlock was 2-2 at 125 pounds. Kevin Machado was solid at 5-2, wrestling at 130 pounds and Myles Bishop went 6-2 at 135. Joey Machado went 0-2 at 140, Brett Mynear was 1-2 at 145, Ryan Sughrue went 1-2 at 152 and Justin Chandley went 1-2 at 160. Making it to the second day of competition, Ryan Lippincott went 4-2 overall at 171 pounds. Jesse Jimenez was 3-2 at 189 on the first day and Isaac Cherry was 0-2 at 215 pounds.
Scott said coaches were pleased with the overall effort of the team, especially considering the high caliber of competition. Of all the wrestlers at the tournament, though, Scott said it was the work of Jesse Jimenez that impressed him the most.
"Jesse won three matches with just six weeks of practice and he has never wrestled in his life," Scott pointed out. "He showed us a huge amount of heart...we were really impressed with how tough he is."
This week, the Cougars will be at home on Wednesday, Jan. 5, facing off against Central Catholic. The match, which will include both JV and varsity bouts, begins at 6:30 p.m. Then the varsity travels to Livermore on Saturday, Jan. 8 for the Granada Mat Classic.
By MARG JACKSON
Competing on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 28 and 29, the Cougars, their coaches and some parents were then caught in one of the biggest storms to hit the area in years.
"We wrapped up the tournament Wednesday night about eight," explained head coach Derek Scott. "A few people had made it out a little before that but they were calling us and by 9:15 p.m., they were only six miles out of Reno."
Thursday proved to be no better, the team trying to make a run for it but finding their way hampered by blizzard conditions.
"We just went back to the hotel," Scott said.
Friday, the weather cleared enough for the slow trek back over the mountains, with wrestlers making it back into town about 4 p.m., said Scott, in time to welcome in the New Year at home.
"Everyone made it safely," he added.
In the tournament itself, Myles Bishop was the only wrestler to place, finishing seventh at 135 pounds with a 6-2 record.
"I was really happy with how the team wrestled," Scott added. "We had three guys make it to the second day, Kevin Machado, Ryan Lippincott and Myles, plus we had Brian Toy and Jesse Jimenez making it to the last match of the first day."
The Sierra Nevada Classic this year featured 90 teams from five different states, so the Cougars got a good look at many of the West's top grapplers.
"We showed a huge amount of improvement," said Scott.
Brian Toy went 2-2 for the tournament at 103 pounds, Atom Garcia was 0-2 at 112 and Ryan Ashlock was 2-2 at 125 pounds. Kevin Machado was solid at 5-2, wrestling at 130 pounds and Myles Bishop went 6-2 at 135. Joey Machado went 0-2 at 140, Brett Mynear was 1-2 at 145, Ryan Sughrue went 1-2 at 152 and Justin Chandley went 1-2 at 160. Making it to the second day of competition, Ryan Lippincott went 4-2 overall at 171 pounds. Jesse Jimenez was 3-2 at 189 on the first day and Isaac Cherry was 0-2 at 215 pounds.
Scott said coaches were pleased with the overall effort of the team, especially considering the high caliber of competition. Of all the wrestlers at the tournament, though, Scott said it was the work of Jesse Jimenez that impressed him the most.
"Jesse won three matches with just six weeks of practice and he has never wrestled in his life," Scott pointed out. "He showed us a huge amount of heart...we were really impressed with how tough he is."
This week, the Cougars will be at home on Wednesday, Jan. 5, facing off against Central Catholic. The match, which will include both JV and varsity bouts, begins at 6:30 p.m. Then the varsity travels to Livermore on Saturday, Jan. 8 for the Granada Mat Classic.
By MARG JACKSON
