Wrestling All-Area: Martinez adds to Northview lore, earns wrestler of the year award; Sierra Vista’s Tony Gonzales is coach of the year


Above: Northview’s Frank Martinez lived up to Vikings lore by winning a CIF state championship and earning All-Area Wrestler of the Year honors.

By Steve Ramirez

There’s a certain expectation to being a wrestler from Northview High School.
Frank Martinez not only understands that, he relishes in it.
And this season, the senior added to Vikings lore by becoming the school’s third state champion with an undefeated season and victory at the CIF State championships in Bakersfield.
For his efforts, Martinez is the area Wrestler of the Year.

ALL-AREA WRESTLING
Wrestler of the Year —
Frank Martinez, Northview, Sr.
Coach of the Year — Tony Gonzales, Sierra Vista
First Team
103:
Nic Jacobo, Northview, Senior
112: Daniel Flores, South Hills, Senior
119: Christopher Tavizon, Bassett, Senior
125: Vincent Herrera, South Hills, Junior
130: Jacob Depraect, West Covina, Junior
135: Jose Maldonado, Sierra Vista, Senior
140: Haydn Scharbrough, Glendora, Junior
145: Noel Blanco, Arroyo, Senior
152: Elvis Arce, Northview, Senior
160: Jacob Hoxsey, Glendora, Senior
171: Raymond Medina, West Covina, Senior
189: Ray Garcia, Wilson, Senior
215: Jesus Vargas, La Puente, Senior
Hwt.: Brian Ryu, Diamond Bar, Junior
Second Team
103:
Christian Betancourt, Arroyo, Junior
112: Daniel Nakatani, Northview, Junior
119: Jacob Martinez, San Dimas, Junior
125: Michael Sill, Walnut, Freshman
130: Chrystian Baneulos, San Dimas, Junior
135: Chris Caballero, West Covina, Sophomore
140: Trevor Behr, South Hills, Sophomore
145: Bradley Ojala, West Covina, Freshman
152: Jeremy Osborn, South Hills, Senior
160: Marcus Jimenez, Walnut, Junior
171: Dakota Behr, South Hills, Senior
189: Ryan McLaurin, West Covina, Senior
215: Jeff Vargas, South Hills, Junior
Hwt.: Chris Auxier, Northview, Junior


Also receiving top area honors is Sierra Vista’s Tony Gonzales, who was Coach of the Year. The all-area first team consists of Northview’s Nic Jacobo (103) and Elvis Arce (152); South Hills’ Daniel Flores (112) and Vincent Herrera (125); West Covina’s Jacob Depraect (130) and Raymond Medina (171); Glendora’s Haydn Scharbrough (140) and Jacob Hoxsey (160); Bassett’s Christopher Tavizon (119); Sierra Vista’s Jose Maldonado (135); Arroyo’s Noel Blanco (145); Wilson’s Ray Garcia (189); La Puente’s Jesus Vargas (215) and Diamond Bar’s Brian Ryu (heavyweight).
“My goal was to be undefeated and have a shot to win state,” said Martinez, who went 53-0 and completed the season with a 3-1 victory over Selma’s Nathan Zarate to win a state title at 140 pounds. “I’m there.”
“This has been my goal since I was a little kid. I’ve always wanted to go to the state tournament and be a champion. My hard work paid off.”
Gonzales has used hard work as a backbone for success at Sierra Vista, where he helped guide the Dons to their sixth consecutive Montview League title.
They also enjoyed individual honors in producing six league champions and one CIF-Southern Section titlist when Maldonado won a Southern Division title at 135 pounds in February.
“I think we wrestled well at the beginning of the season,” Gonzales said. “We had younger kids, so I wasn’t sure where we would be. But we improved on what we did last year.
“The kids just put it together at the end of the season.”
Maldonado was steady at the division finals by winning one match by fall and scoring 9-4 and 11-0 victories before beating Redlands East Valley’s Kyle Randall, 6-5. He advanced to the quarterfinals at CIF-SS Masters before losing in the consolation round.
Northview had its usual success but shared the limelight with South Hills, West Covina and Glendora. All produced two competitors to the all-area team.
Northview’s contingent, besides Martinez, also featured Jacobo and Arce, who both qualified for the state meet.
Jacobo, who did not place at state, won a CIF-SS Northern Division title and was seventh at Masters. Arce was fifth at divisionals and ninth at Masters. He did not place at state.
South Hills was solid at lower weights with Flores and Herrera. Flores was a runner-up in the Southern Division and placed fourth at Masters. Herrera was third and sixth, respectively, at divisionals and Masters. Both qualified for state but did not place.
West Covina, which shared the San Antonio League title with South Hills and Walnut, was led by Depraect, who was fourth at divisionals, and Medina, who was second at divisionals and ninth at Masters to qualify for state.
Glendora continued to look like a program to watch after sending Scharbrough and Hoxsey to the state meet. Both won divisional titles, with Hoxsey taking a solid second at Masters. Scharbrough was sixth at Masters.
Tavizon had one of the better season’s in Bassett history by advancing to the state meet. He placed fourth at divisionals and seventh at Masters.
Blanco was the only other area competitor besides Martinez to place at state with a seventh-place finish at 145. He also was second at divisionals and fourth at Masters.
Garcia was the top competitor at 189. He won a Miramonte League title and just missed advancing to Masters.
Vargas enjoyed a solid season in winning a Montview League title with a runner-up finish at divisionals.
Ryu won league and divisional titles before placing fourth at Masters. He went 1-2 at the state meet.
steve.ramirez@sgvn.com
626-962-8811, ext. 2296

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