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Community Corner

Mar Vista Matmen Josh Walters and Mateo Olmos Place at CIF and Masters

Mar Vista Senior Josh Walters finished his high school wrestling career with a 33-9 record. Josh placed second in CIF DIV III championships and fifth at the San Diego Masters Meet which was held at Mission Hills high school on Feb. 22nd. He graduated with a 4.4 GPA and as ASB president and class valedictorian. 

Mateo finished his stellar freshman season with a 37-5 record. Along the way he recorded four tournament championships and garnered two MVP awards and one best takedown award.  He took second in CIF in the most exciting match of the night where he apparently won the finals match with a last second takedown against a senior, Leon Shlemoon of El Cajon Valley. The side referee called a timeout and awarded his opponent an escape. This tied the match and sent it into overtime. In the first OT period the score was 0-0. The match then went into double OT. Mateo gave up an escape and the match ended 9-8 giving his opponent the win. Mateo then went on to the Masters meet where he made it to the semi-finals. There he faced Ralphy Tovar of Poway who was ranked 2nd in the state. Tovar won the match and Mateo dropped down into the consolation bracket. In the consolations Mateo defeated senior Xavier Plascencia of Hilltop to make it to the consolation finals. Mateo ended up facing Shlemoon once again after Shlemoon had lost in the semis to McIntyre from La Costa Canyon.  Mateo ended up missing going to state by one point after dropping this match. This time it was a penalty point for not apparently returning his opponent to the mat quickly enough. Mateo ended up winning a fourth place medal in the tough 145 pound weight class. Only the top three at Masters are awarded a berth at the state tournament in Bakersfield.

And so the season ends for the Senior and the Freshman. The senior moves on to college and a career. The freshman retools his skills to make a run at the state tournament in his remaining three years. We wish both of them luck and thank them for all the great matches that they wrestled in front of their friends, family and fans.

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