Two place, eight qualify for second day of Jimmy Hamada Classic

Two Fallbrook High School wrestlers placed among the top eight at the Jimmy Hamada Classic tournament, Dec. 6-7, at La Costa Canyon High School, and eight of the 11 Warriors who competed qualified for the second-day rounds of the tournament.

“The team performed really well there,” Fallbrook coach Cristian Vera said. “The La Costa Canyon tournament is one of the toughest tournaments in the state. We want to be as competitive as we possibly can, and the boys did just that.”

Despite not fielding grapplers in every weight class, the Warriors placed 19th among all schools in the tournament and fourth among North County schools.

The tournament had a double-elimination format. Fallbrook’s best showing in any weight class was in the 132-pound bracket; senior Kevin Sanchez placed fourth. Sanchez’s only loss on the mat was in the round of 16 when his Selma High School opponent won a 4-3 decision.

“It was a close match,” Vera said. “At the very end of the match, we were shooting for a takedown and couldn’t get enough time to conclude it.”

A takedown is worth two points, and thus would have given Sanchez a 5-4 victory had it occurred. Sanchez followed that loss with five consecutive victories to reach the third-place match. However, wrestlers are limited to five matches in one day so Sanchez had to forfeit that third-place match since he had already competed five times Dec. 7.

The other Fallbrook matman who placed was senior Carlos Hernandez took seventh in the 195-pound division. Hernandez lost in the round of 16, won his first three Dec. 7 matches, lost in the consolation semifinals and won the seventh-place bout.

“He had a phenomenal tournament. He did really well,” Vera said.

Two other Fallbrook competitors reached the placing round whose victors received medals for being in the top eight.

“They were both really close matches, and they all wrestled well,” Vera said.

Johnny Bermudez reached the quarterfinals of the 220-pound division before the junior lost to the bracket's top seed. Bermudez then lost a 6-4 decision in the placing round.

“Johnny Bermudez did exceptionally well at that tournament,” Vera said.

Fallbrook’s heavyweight contender, senior Javier Montoya, lost in the round of 16, won his first two matches on the second day and lost a 3-1 decision in the bout to place among the top eight.

“Javier Montoya also had a phenomenal tournament,” Vera said.

A school is allowed to enter more than one wrestler in the same weight class, although only one of those can count towards team points. The 152-pound division included both junior Matthew Kendall and sophomore Ethan Aguila. Both reached the second day and placed in the top 16.

“There were some heartbreaking losses there,” Vera said.

Frank Greenwood qualified for the second day of the tournament, although the junior was unable to compete. The 182-pounder was undefeated before the round of 16 but was injured in that match and withdrew. He was not able to compete in the losers’ bracket the following day, and thus defaulted his Dec. 7 match.

“We’re a growing program,” Vera said. “I couldn’t be happier with where we’re at.”