City Champs Once Again: Four-in-a-Row!

With another City Title on their shoulders, TJ wrestlers prepare for regionals.

Photo by Hanna Kazlouskaya

The Wrestlers went to the League Tournament at Kennedy last Saturday, bringing a total of 13 guys and managed to beat the odds against them, coming out with the 4^th consecutive win as City Champions.

The boys beat the other nine schools by a total of 17.5 points, coming out with a total score of 180.5. The high schools that participated in the League included East, Abraham Lincoln, West, John F. Kennedy, North, South, Montbello, and George Washington. “It was a really exciting match to watch. The TJ wrestlers represented out school very well and you could tell that they have been coached on a high level and knew what they were doing,” said Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Lani Nobles. “It was great beating East over again. They are definitely our biggest rivals.” East took second place with a total of 163 points.

The whole team placed in the League helping with the total score. The guys who placed 1^st are Corey Hernandez, Layth Dieyleh, and Noel Estrada. Daniel Webster, Luke Fabian, Bennet Rodriguez, and Garmaa Shinebayer all took 2^nd place. Hagen Corral, and Joe Johnson came out in 3^rd place. The guys that pulled through in 4^th place are Elias Valenzuela-Ruiz, Sheik Kamara, Tony Rivera, and Daniel Cole.

“We could have done better, but we did what it took to win. It wasn’t pretty, but we eventually got there,” said Head Coach Mike Laurita. “Now we have to get ready for the regionals that are coming up this weekend.” Laurita hopes to take as many wrestlers as possible to regionals and so far has 12 guys who will for sure be wrestling for TJ.

The whole TJ staff along with the wrestlers is in high spirits about regionals; this was a win that proved how great the Spartan wrestlers really are. “TJ was dominant throughout the whole match. We are all proud of all the wrestlers; they have really proved themselves this season,” said Special Education Teacher Dominic Lucero.

Laurita has impressed everyone as he once again wins the City Championship and prepares his wrestlers for regionals. “He [Laurita] is doing a great thing with wrestling right now. When I hired him for this position five years ago I knew that he would be able to turn the program around, and he did. Our wrestling program is now at the top in the state,” said Nobles. “Now we don’t expect any less from Laurita; we know that he will always coach great wrestlers that will make it to state.”

The wrestlers this week will be preparing for the Regional Competition that will start Friday 11^th and continue on to Saturday 12^th. Make sure to come and support the TJ wrestlers at Westminster.