Gunn's Kawano pins down his first tourney championship Gunn's Kawano pins down his first tourney championship (December 21, 2005)

by Keith Peters

It was just a matter of time before Gunn junior Kiyoshi Kawano won his first individual tournament title, and that time came last weekend at the 2005 Coast Classic at Scotts Valley High.

Kawano, one of three Gunn wrestlers entered in the two-day meet, captured the 112-pound crown and was voted Outstanding Wrestler of the lightweight (103-140 pounds) divisions.

Kawano pinned his first two opponents and dominated in his quarterfinal match with a 10-0 victory on the first day. He continued his winning ways in the semifinals and went on to give the crowd a spectacle in the finals when he defeated Sergio Valdez of South San Francisco in the finals, 12-7.

Valdez is the No. 2-ranked wrestler in the Central Coast Section in that weight after placing third last season in the CCS tournament.

Kawano's undefeated weekend and first varsity tournament title of his career leaves him 11-0 this season with six pins and one technical fall.

Palo Alto junior John Hall also pinned down an individual championship. In fact, Hall pinned four opponents and added one decision on his way to winning the 189-pound title.

At 171 pounds, Gunn junior Derek Austin received a bye in the Round of 32 and pinned his first opponent in the Round of 16. He then lost a tight 10-6 match in the quarterfinals and lost a second time in the consolation quarterfinals to finish in the top 12.

At 189 pounds, Gunn senior Nadav Perl got some notice when he pinned all three of his first opponents during the first period the first day of the tournament. He then lost in the semifinals to Palo Alto's Hall and fell again in the consolation semifinals. Perl, however, came back strong to pin his fourth victim and claim fifth place.

Earlier in the week, Gunn opened its SCVAL El Camino Division season with a 51-27 triumph over host Monta Vista. The Titans won, despite having seven of 14 starters out. Gunn also won six matches by forfeit, thus started with a 36-0 lead.

Kawano (125) and Austin (171) both won to remain undefeated. Kawano produced a 16-9 decision while Austin came up with a pin in just 30 seconds of the first round. Perl also pinned his opponent, in 2:50.

Gunn improved to 7-0 this season and stretched its dual-meet winning streak to 25 matches, dating to the start of the 2003 season.

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