Anderson qualifies for state wrestling tournament

Bonsall High School does not have a wrestling team, but Sebastian Anderson's parents commute south on Interstate 15 so Anderson attends Westview High School in Poway Unified School District and wrestles for the Wolverines. Anderson became the first Westview wrestler in nine years to win a CIF divisional championship Feb. 8, and he placed fourth in the all-division Masters Tournament to qualify for the state meet, Feb. 15.

"I have a lot of love and dedication to the sport," Anderson said. "The hard work paid off."

Anderson attended Bonsall Elementary School and Sullivan Middle School. When he was in fourth grade in 2012, his Cub Scout pack visited the Fallbrook High School wrestling room. He joined the Relentless Wrestling club with coach Greg Wagaman, who was Fallbrook's head coach from 2008 to 2014, and competed in his first tournament in December 2012.

Anderson transferred to the No Mercy club, which was based at Rancho Buena Vista High School with coach Ruben Leon in 2014, and as an eighth grader in 2017, he placed second in the USA Wrestling state tournament.

His parent's commute allowed Anderson to attend Westview High School in San Diego. His father works for IBM, and his mother is self-employed in the marketing consulting field. His parents' trips to the Rancho Bernardo, Mira Mesa and Sorrento Mesa areas made a Poway Unified School District campus the logical choice for Anderson, and Westview was available to him as a freshman.

As a ninth grader, Anderson won a freshman tournament at La Costa Canyon High School. He wrestled at 138 pounds that year, and the two-pound allowance for the CIF tournament placed him in the 140-pound bracket. He placed fourth in the Division I tournament to qualify for the masters. Anderson wrestled at 152 pounds as a sophomore, which meant 154 pounds for the CIF tournament, and he was third in the Division I tournament to earn a second trip to the masters.

This year Anderson was in the 170-pound bracket, which was reclassified as the 172-pound division for the Division I tournament Feb. 15 at Mission Hills High School and the Masters Tournament Feb. 21-22 at Southwest High School in El Centro.

During the season, Anderson won championships at the Jan. 4 Mission Hills Varsity Tournament and the Jan. 25 Battle by the Beach tournament at Mar Vista High School. He placed second in the Nov. 23 Carlsbad Invitational and at the Jan. 11 Jim Londos Tournament at Orange Glen High School, and he was third in the 49-school Holtville Rotary Invitational tournament Feb. 1.

"I was super dedicated, and I always showed up to practice. I'd always eat healthy. I trained throughout the week," Anderson said.

That training went beyond the school wrestling room.

"I jump rope, do whatever it takes to be the best," Anderson said.

Anderson doesn't claim have attained that superlative position at this time, however.

"I'm not the best but plan on it," he said.

Anderson began the Division I tournament by pinning Ethan Esteban of Otay Ranch High School 45 seconds into the match. Next, he pinned Alec Howell of Torrey Pines High School in 1:41. His semifinal match against David Hetter of Patrick Henry High School was an 11-1 major decision win for Anderson.

That win placed Anderson into the Division I championship match against Helix High School matman Lex Lo. A 6-3 decision gave Anderson the division championship.

"Throughout the year, my goal was to get first at CIF," Anderson said.

Anderson had a first-round bye in the Masters Tournament. His first opponent was Valley Center's Jax Murren, and Anderson advanced with a 15-3 major decision victory. Next, Anderson won a 10-0 major decision against Mario Albarran of Rancho Buena Vista High School.

Top seed Alex Hernandez of Poway High School pinned both his previous Masters Tournament opponents in the first period. Hernandez and Anderson met in the semifinals, and Hernandez advanced to the championship match with a 12-2 major decision over Anderson.

"He only beat me by points," Anderson said. "I was happy."

The top four in each weight class at the San Diego Section masters qualified for the state tournament, which will be Feb. 28-29 at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.

"I'll see him at state. I'm looking for a rematch," Anderson said.

The loss put Anderson in the consolation bracket, and he clinched a berth at the state meet with a 7-0 decision win in the consolation semifinals.

"It's always been a goal of mine," Anderson said of qualifying for the state meet.

"It took 'till junior year to get to state," Anderson said. "I'm really glad it's here."

The winner of the consolation final is given third place while the loser of that match places fourth. Noah Rupp of Maranatha Christian High School pinned Anderson 2:27 into the third-place match.

"He had some pretty good defense," Anderson said.

Anderson was unsuccessful in his takedown attempt.

"I wasn't tight around the waist enough," he said.

That put Anderson out of position, and Rupp was able to put Anderson on his back and apply the pin.

"One mistake can determine a whole match," Anderson said.

A mistake is more avoidable than being physically outmatched, which means that mistakes are easier to correct than losses to stronger opponents.

"That's just going to push me harder," Anderson said.

Anderson may also have a rematch against Rupp at the state tournament.

"I'm going to be training hard this week," Anderson said.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at [email protected].