STOCKTON — Just getting to the Sac-Joaquin Section Team Duals was supposed to be the hard part, but getting there seemed easy compared to trying to get through Los Banos during Weston Ranch High’s 51-16 first round loss to the Tigers Saturday.
The Cougars could have done better on their draw, pulling one of the tournament’s top teams in Los Banos. Weston Racnch got down 12-0 after a pair of quick pins in the heavyweight and 215-pound weight classes, and simply could never recover.
“If we could have came out and won a few we could have some something,” Weston Ranch head coach Pat King said. “Winning is contagious and losing is contagious. When we have some of our top dogs go down early, it makes our younger kids not believe because they’re so young.
“If one of those early matches goes the other way, the momentum may have swapped.”
Nathan Bowens was the Cougar to break the slide, putting on a 13-4 exhibition in his 103-pound match. Bowens did not look like a freshman on the mat, having his way with his opponent through each round.
“He just became eligible after Christmas,” King said of Bowens. “He’s a tough kid and he is going to be really good for us.
“He really stepped up today; I feel he was one of our two best wrestlers.”
Adrian Garcia pulled out a pin in his 125-pound match, scoring one of only two Weston Ranch pins. Garcia was trailing his opponent 10-2 when he turned the tables and recorded the pin.
Weston Ranch 189-pound standout Donell Simms was the final Cougar to take the mat and did not disappoint when he got his shot. Los Banos had the match in hand, but Simms was not wrestling for the points. His determination was evident and an impressive second round pin didn’t take long.
“I don’t like to lose and with me, this is all about the team not about the individual,” Simms said. “I was just trying my hardest and I was focused on trying to pin him.
“We were so low on points I had to pin him.”
The Cougars will be back on the mat this week in preparation for the Valley Oak League tournament next weekend at East Union High.
The Cougars could have done better on their draw, pulling one of the tournament’s top teams in Los Banos. Weston Racnch got down 12-0 after a pair of quick pins in the heavyweight and 215-pound weight classes, and simply could never recover.
“If we could have came out and won a few we could have some something,” Weston Ranch head coach Pat King said. “Winning is contagious and losing is contagious. When we have some of our top dogs go down early, it makes our younger kids not believe because they’re so young.
“If one of those early matches goes the other way, the momentum may have swapped.”
Nathan Bowens was the Cougar to break the slide, putting on a 13-4 exhibition in his 103-pound match. Bowens did not look like a freshman on the mat, having his way with his opponent through each round.
“He just became eligible after Christmas,” King said of Bowens. “He’s a tough kid and he is going to be really good for us.
“He really stepped up today; I feel he was one of our two best wrestlers.”
Adrian Garcia pulled out a pin in his 125-pound match, scoring one of only two Weston Ranch pins. Garcia was trailing his opponent 10-2 when he turned the tables and recorded the pin.
Weston Ranch 189-pound standout Donell Simms was the final Cougar to take the mat and did not disappoint when he got his shot. Los Banos had the match in hand, but Simms was not wrestling for the points. His determination was evident and an impressive second round pin didn’t take long.
“I don’t like to lose and with me, this is all about the team not about the individual,” Simms said. “I was just trying my hardest and I was focused on trying to pin him.
“We were so low on points I had to pin him.”
The Cougars will be back on the mat this week in preparation for the Valley Oak League tournament next weekend at East Union High.
