Publication Date: Friday, February 13, 2004
PREP ROUNDUP
Gunn wrestlers pin down perfect season
Gunn wrestlers pin down perfect season
(February 13, 2004) Titans put the finishing touches on a 10-0 dual-meet campaign and capture their first league title in 29 years
by Keith Peters
Will Keller has experienced both the highs and lows of the Gunn wrestling program. Just two years ago, he was one of only eight team members.
This season, Gunn started with 38 and finished with 30. More important, the Titans started the season with a 0-0 record and finished 10-0.
On Wednesday, Gunn put the finishing touches on their perfect season by winning the SCVAL El Camino Division dual-meet title with a 59-9 triumph over host Santa Clara. The Titans finished 6-0 in league, capturing their first title in 29 years.
Next up will be the SCVAL Championships at Los Altos High on Saturday. Matches begin at 9 a.m., with medal rounds scheduled for the evening.
"If we have a good league tournament, we will finish fifth or sixth in Saturday's SCVAL Championships," said Gunn co-head coach Chris Horpel, the former head coach at Stanford. "I think we are on the verge of being competitive in the De Anza Division of the SCVAL. If we keep improving at this rate, we will challenge for the top three in next year's league."
Horpel, who coached at Gunn before moving on to Stanford for 30 years, has returned to his roots and teamed with Matt McGinn and and Matt Struckmeyer to rebuild Gunn's program.
"We have gone from a group of guys who didn't know what they were doing out there to a team of confident, young wrestlers," Horpel said. "We had good leadership. Will Keller and Adam Juratovac have really held this team together over the past several years. We also got lucky with the quality of athlete we got in some of our younger kids . . . .lots of ability."
While the El Camino Division doesn't have the quality and depth of the De Anza Division, the Titans still became the best they could be at this level. A perfect season at any level is still something worth bragging about.
On Wednesday, Gunn didn't beat Santa Clara by taking advantage of forfeits. There were bouts at every weight class and the Titans won 12 of 14. Six of the victories were by pin.
While Gunn built an insurmountable lead, the match still came down to a fitting ending that had the Titans roaring in approval. Keller, a four-year veteran, wrestled the final match and made the most of it, although in very quick fashion. He pinned his man in just 48 seconds to cap the perfect season.
Other Gunn winners included Juratovac at 275, Juan Cativo at 215, Nadav Perl at 160, Derrick Brooks at 152, James Thomas at 145, Patrick Gregory at 135, AJ Giaccia at 130, Khoa Hoang at 119, Kiyoshi Kawano at 112 and Chris Gumbrecht at 103. Kawano, Hoang, Giaccia, Gregory and Juratovac joined Keller in the parade of pins.
Keller and Juratovac both finished the league season with 10-0 records. Other unbeaten wrestlers for Gunn were Gumbrecht, Thomas, Gregory and Justin Reyes at 103.
In the PAL Ocean Division, Menlo-Atherton put the finishing touches on a 6-0 dual-meet record by wrapping up the league title with a 59-19 thumping of host Capuchino.
In the SCVAL De Anza Division, Paly dropped a 40-33 decision to host Fremont. James McCluskey, favored for the 275-pound title at the SCVAL Championships, won his final tuneup with a pin at 1:30.
Boys basketball
Menlo-Atherton (10-1, 21-3) can win the PAL South Division title outright tonight by beating host Woodside at 7:45 p.m. The Bears and Wildcats had been tied for the division lead until Wednesday. Menlo-Atherton, a 65-31 winner at Mills, grabbed sole possession of first place when Woodside was upended by Burlingame, 70-53.
If Woodside wins tonight's game, a four-way tie for first place will result between Menlo-Atherton, Woodside, Burlingame and Aragon, all with 10-2 marks.
"Who wants tiebreakers?" said M-A coach Craig Carson. "We'll have to win and spare everyone all that."
SCVAL De Anza Division co-leader Palo Alto (9-1, 21-3) tuned up for last night's showdown with visiting Gunn by thumping host Homestead on Tuesday, 72-36. Sophomore forward Steven Brown made four 3-pointers and scored a career-high 22 points to lead the Vikings, who jumped to a 21-4 lead after the opening quarter and coasted from there while winning their ninth-straight game.
Gunn (4-5, 13-11) was idle Tuesday night. Milpitas (9-1) kept pace with Palo Alto with a 71-43 victory over winless Wilcox.
Sacred Heart Prep didn't play Tuesday night, but the Gators (13-0, 20-2) still clinched no worse than a tie for the Private Schools Athletic League title when second-place Redwood Christian (11-3) was upset by King's Academy, 62-57. The Gators can win the title outright tonight by beating host St. Lawrence.
In the Christian Private Schools Athletic League, Da'Ron Maxie scored a career-high 36 points to lead Mid-Peninsula (11-1, 17-5) to an easy 96-33 triumph over East Palo Alto Academy.
On Monday, Eastside Prep (7-0, 22-1) stretched its winning streak to 19 games with 72-29 romp over host San Francisco Christian. Keith Garner scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Panthers while Gio Connor added eight points, seven rebounds and five assists.
In the PAL North Division, Blake Schultz scored 20 points for Menlo during a 70-61 loss to host Jefferson. The Knights fell to 4-9 in league (11-12 overall).
Girls basketball
Pinewood (8-0, 13-8) clinched a tie for the PSAL title by downing second-place Redwood Christian, 67-26, in Los Altos Hills. Sophomore Alissa Flesher tallied 21 points to pace the Panthers, who can win the league title outright by beating visiting St. Lawrence on Thursday.
On Monday, Eastside Prep (5-0, 17-4) rolled over host San Francisco Christian, 85-23, as Sharissa McDaniel scored 19 points and Chantelle Brown added 18. Sade Johnson contributed 16 points.
In the De Anza Division, Palo Alto (8-2, 19-6) fell into a three-way tie for first place after dropping its second straight road game, this time to Homestead, 67-47.
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