Connect with us

GSPN

FRIARS, GECKOS WIN 2018 WRESTLING TITLES

It was an early ending for the 2018-2019 IIAAG Wrestling All-Island Meet with a low number of participants due to the absence of the Sanchez Sharks. After the all-day event, the FD Friars celebrated their fourth straight championship and the GW Geckos girls celebrated their championship hours after the GW boys team won the baseball title.

By Jay Leon Guerrero

It was an early ending for the 2018-2019 IIAAG Wrestling All-Island Meet with a low number of participants due to the absence of the Sanchez Sharks. After the all-day event, the FD Friars celebrated their fourth straight championship and the GW Geckos girls celebrated their championship hours after the GW boys team won the baseball title.

GW rallies to win girls championship

It was a three team race with three matches remaining in the all-island girls meet between the regular season record leader Tiyan Titans, the AOLG Cougars and the Geckos.

A clutch come-from-behind pin by freshman Alanah Balabagno in the 168-pound division helped push the Geckos within three points of the-then team point leader Cougars. McKenzie Quitugua followed with victory via pin fall in the 184-pound division to take the lead and clinch the championship.

Girls Final team scores:
GW Geckos – 136 points
AOLG Cougars – 130 points
Tiyan Titans – 122 points
Okkodo Bulldogs – 69 points
Southern Dolphins – 50 points
JFK Islanders – 48 points
Guam High Panthers – 42 points

The GW Lady Geckos were crowned the 2018 IIAAG HS Girls Wrestling Champions while the Boys team grabbed 2nd place. (Photo by Michael Blas)

“For the longest time, GW has been close to winning a title but was always coming up short. Knowing that I helped the team get closer with my victory makes me feel really good,” said Balabagno. “I’m glad I decided to join wrestling; I’m really indebted to our coaches who helped us this season.”

The Cougars came close once again and almost made history coming up short of a championship. Lauren Lujan, Andrea Salas, and Annabelle Basto each won gold medals for the Cougars. Lujan and Basto won the light and heavy weight MVP honors for the season after the coaches voted after the event.

Salas wins thrilling match

“Before every match, I tell myself that I have to want it more than my opponent,” said Salas. Salas was tested early but overcame adversity and won via pin to give Academy the point lead mid-way through the meet.

Academy finished in a respectable second place, their highest finish in school history and are looking strong for next season.

“Academy in the past has been at the bottom of the rankings but now that we have more wrestlers coming out and wrestling under coach Terry Debold, we are doing much better,” said Salas.

Debold’s Dynasty Continues

The Father Duenas Friars once again walked away with a convincing win to claim their fourth straight title, continuing the dynasty under head coach Terry Debold. The Friars had nine total wrestlers in the gold medal matches and scored 139 total points.

Boys Final Team results:
FD Friars – 139 points
Southern High – 87 points
GW Geckos – 84 points
Okkodo Bulldogs – 76 points
Guam High – 39 points
Tiyan Titans – 38 points
JFK Islanders – 11 points

Caleb Laserna, Thomas Pool, Matias Calvo and Kobe Onedera each won gold medals for the Friars. After a disappointing finish last year, Laserna returned to wrestling and won his match in the 113-pound division via pin.

“I felt motivated after what happened last year. I decided to continue wrestling and push myself to go for the gold,” said Laserna who finished the season undefeated.

FD team captain Calvo (14-0) and teammate Pool (11-0) also finished their season undefeated.

Galarpe, Bonnette win MVP honors

Lance Galarpe from Tiyan won the lightweight MVP honors. Galarpe held off FD’s Kaleb Gamabala in the 120-pound gold medal match to finish his with a 13-1 record. Bonnette pinned GW’s Devin Benavente in the 160-pound gold medal match and finished his season with a 12-1 record.

Girls IIAAG Wrestling results:

97: Tiara Fernandez, Tiyan (Gold), Emma Reese Gutierrez, AOLG (Silver), Elenice Leon Guerrero, GW (Bronze)

102: Alyssa Dumlao, Tiyan (Gold), Myah Blas, Tiyan (Silver)

112: Alyssa Molo, Tiyan (Gold), Erin Quichocho, GW (Silver), Leila Halmi, Guam High (Bronze)

117: Anica Menor, Tiyan (Gold), Jennifer Mesa, AOLG (Silver), Chloe Stanley, AOLG (Bronze)

122: Lauren Lujan, AOLG (Gold), Aveah Garrido, GW (Silver), Kiana Siguenza, Southern (Bronze)

127: Andrea Salas, GW (Gold), Kitana Neal, GW (Silver), Jenna Delos Reyes, Southern (Bronze)

132: Annabelle Basto, AOLG (Gold), Ahmylyn Cabrera, Okkodo (Silver), Randi Affleje, JFK (Bronze)

138: Jessy Blas, JFK (Gold), Jenny Choi, AOLG (Silver), Savana Taitague, Southern (Bronze)

145: Maya Fendi Kunihiro, Okkodo (Gold)

155: Alexandra Cruz, Okkodo (Gold), Ha’ani Peredo, GW (Silver), Anieva Cepeda, Tiyan (Bronze)

168: Alanah Balabagno, GW (Gold), Meghan Knaeble, Okkodo, (Silver), Machaela Schwappach, Guam High (Bronze)

184: McKenzie Quitugua, GW (Gold), Jaeda Aguon, JFK (Silver), Katrina Shadow, Guam High (Bronze)

225: Savannah LeMaire, Southern (Gold), Jonie Buccat, GW (Silver)

Boys IIAAG Wrestling results:

106: Ely Pocaigue, Southern (Gold), Keoni Lizama, FD (Silver), Alexander Hernandez, FD (Bronze)

113:Caleb Laserna, FD (Gold), Xander Duenas, Tiyan (Silver), Nicholas Gumataotao, GW (Bronze)

120: Lance Galarpe, Tiyan (Gold), Kaleb Gambala, FD (Silver), Skyler Lujan, Southern (Bronze)

126: Julius Gaduang, Guam High (Gold), Ricky Gamboa, Tiyan (Silver), Jordan Lujan, Southern (Bronze)

132: Mason Duenas, GW (Gold), Jonah Diaz, FD (Silver), Troy Muna, Southern (Bronze)

138: Shelby Meeks, GW (Gold), Samuel Gose, Okkodo (Silver), Izion DeLeon Guerrero, Okkodo (Bronze)

145: Peter Olandez, Okkodo (Gold), Noah Quichocho, GW (Silver), Elee Cruz, JFK (Bronze)

152: Mark Selfie, Guam High (Gold), Zion Ferrera, Okkodo (Silver), Jose Egurrola, FD (Bronze)

160: Brock Bonnette, Southern (Gold), Devin Benavente, GW (Silver), Matthew Olandez, Okkodo (Bronze)

170: Thomas Pool, FD (Gold), Nathaniel Diaz, Southern (Silver), Kaleb Mendiola, GW (Bronze)

182: Bartolme J Abuan, Okkodo (Gold), Coleman Pool, FD (Silver), Julio Fernandes Rosas, Guam High (Bronze)

195: Matias Calvo, FD (Gold), Gavin Terlaje, Southern (Silver), Jesse Santos, Okkodo (Bronze)

220: Kobe Onedera, FD (Gold), Aiden Tamayo, Southern (Silver), Anthony Meno, FD (Bronze)

285: Jose San Miguel, GW (Gold), Kyle Ada, FD (Silver), Alvin Joseph, Okkodo (Bronze)

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Ad

GPS Sports Calendar

February

March 2024

April
SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
25
26
27
28
29
1
2
Events for February

1st

Events for March

2nd

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Events for March

2nd

No Events
Events for March

4th

Events for March

5th

Events for March

6th

Events for March

7th

Events for March

8th

Events for March

9th

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Events for March

9th

No Events
Events for March

11th

Events for March

12th

Events for March

13th

Events for March

14th

Events for March

14th

No Events
Events for March

16th

17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Events for March

16th

No Events
Events for March

17th

No Events
Events for March

18th

No Events
Events for March

19th

No Events
Events for March

20th

No Events
Events for March

22nd

Events for March

22nd

No Events
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Events for March

24th

Events for March

24th

No Events
Events for March

25th

No Events
Events for March

27th

Events for March

27th

No Events
Events for March

28th

No Events
Events for March

29th

No Events
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
Events for March

30th

No Events

COMING SOON …

4th Quarter Sports

  • Guam Marathon

QUICK HITS

The Oceanview Knights are your 2024 ISA Middle School Girls Soccer League champions! The Knights beat out the Astumbo Dragons 3-2 in penalty kicks after a scoreless draw after regulation and OT of the championship game.
————————————–
Roque Martinez regains his Deep MMA megaton belt with a unanimous decision win over Ryo Sakai in Tokyo Saturday night.
It was a unification bout in which Sakai won the title after Martinez vacated it in 2019, prior to joining the UFC. Martinez just turned 38 on March 4.

More in GSPN