CCS wrestling championships: Gilroy continues reign, captures 21st consecutive section title

Central Coast Section boys

Gilroy’s reign continues

There was no team better than Gilroy on Saturday as head coach Daniel Cormier led the Mustangs to their 21st consecutive CCS championship title at Watsonville High School. Gilroy finished with a boys and girls combined score of 532 points. The boys accounted for 331.5 points. The next closest team was Alisal, which had 220 combined points. The last time Gilroy didn’t win a CCS title was 2002. “It’s an amazing accomplishment,” Cormier said. “I never take winning these for granted because I understand the work that all the teams in the area are doing to try to ensure that we don’t continue to beat them in the way that we have. I enjoy this tournament every year.” Gilroy won all but five divisions on Saturday. Nine wrestlers took first place and 12 qualified for state. Gilroy’s dominance has made it the team to beat in CCS for the past 20 years, but Cormier said the team doesn’t mind playing the role of the bad guys. “We have become the evil empire here in the area,” Cormier said. “It’s usually Gilroy against the entire CCS and we live for it.” … Gilroy senior Cody Merril remained undefeated as a high school wrestler by defeating Aptos’ Lucas Zuniga for the 285-pound title. Cormier coined Merril as “the greatest wrestler in Gilroy history” — incredible praise given the talent that has gone through the program. … Travis Grace was Gilroy’s other standout. He won each of his four bouts in the 157-pound division by pinning his opponents. He defeated Lucas Pannell from Los Gatos in the championship match. Grace tore his labrum in the state tournament last year, but recovered from his injury to return this season. … Los Gatos senior Ethan Parco won the 150-pound title by defeating Gilroy’s Kaleo Garcia. Parco notched three takedowns en route to a 10-3 decision. … Lynbrook’s Neale Pathak was the Cinderella story of the championships. Pathak beat Gilroy’s Dominic Bozanic, who had over 60 wins in his high school career, in the division final 3-1.

PHOTOS: Scroll to the bottom for the CCS meet in pictures

CCS girls

Mustangs dominate on the girls side, too

The Gilroy girls were just as dominant, scoring 220.5 points en route to the CCS title. Five Mustangs won a first-place match and nine qualified for the state tournament. Gilroy’s Tamara Grace had the most dominant day, pinning all of her opponents on the way to the 130-pound title. Kauilani Garcia was Gilroy’s other standout Saturday. She beat Alisal’s Areli Rodriguez by technical fall 17-2. … Willow Glen’s Casey Azus and Terra Nova’s Sophia Darer faced off in the 110-pound finals, but Darer prevailed with a 10-5 win. … Other local wrestlers who won first-place were Fremont-Sunnyvale’s Myra Pressnel (115 pounds), Burlingame’s Lauren Aguilar (120), Santa Clara’s Angelinah De Leon (155) and Evergreen Valley’s Katianna Martinez (190).