SJ All Star Wrestling Team Selected

The SJ All Star Wrestling Team was selected recently. After a week of practice, a wrestle-off was held to determine the team. The selected team then continue with two weeks of preparation leading up to this weekend’s duals in a state-wide event held in Fresno, CA at the Selland Arena. Teams will be coming from other areas representing other regions.

The selection process from the area’s best wrestlers is a good indicator of a high school team’s progress. Unlike other sports where an all-star team is just an honor received or competition reserved to just outgoing seniors, these teams will compete against one another over two days.

In Tracy and surrounding towns: Neither Kimball nor West High School had any participants included from the city of Tracy. Tracy will be represented by one wrestler. Two from Stockton area schools and none from the Manteca/Ripon/Lathrop area.

In Tracy: Representing Tracy High School is Eli Blackwell. He was selected for the third consecutive year. Eli will compete at 134 pounds.

The remainder of the team will have wrestlers from the cities of Modesto, Oakdale, Ceres, Atwater, Merced, and Patterson represented.

UPDATE: An injury to a wrestler from Modesto has left a spot to be filled by another quality wrestler. Anthony Nunes, a freshman from Tracy High School will step in to wrestle at 122.

US Open Results

Tracy High was represented by veteran Eli Blackwell at the US Open (Western Regional). The event had multiple age divisions with competition from youth all the way up to senior level competitors vying for a trip to Final X or qualifying to the WTT with a focus on Final X. Eli was competing in both the high school junior age division (typically high school juniors and seniors) as well as the UWW junior division (college age participants).

In the junior division, Eli beat several nationally ranked opponents and state medalists and state champions to reach the finals of the Greco tournament before losing in the final to take home a 2nd place silver medal. In the UWW division, Eli went 2-2 with two falls over collegiate wrestlers including last year’s UWW finalist and Pan Am representative who was representing the Naval Academy RTC.

Eli was representing Stanford – California RTC (Regional Training Center) for highly skilled regional wrestlers who have met the USA Wrestling criteria for participation. High school and college wrestlers who have placed top 8 nationally or top 4 in their state are eligible to participate.

Congratulations Eli on a great tournament in Las Vegas!

State Finalist

After becoming an All-American at Reno World Nationals just last weekend, Tracy High’s Eli Blackwell becomes the first Tracy High wrestler this decade to reach the state finals in an international style event and he does it wrestling in the college/adult age division. Open Greco @ 60kg. He reached the finals with a tech-fall in the quarters, another in the semis before falling short in the finals.

2019 Danae Marie Dias “True Grit” Scholarship Recipient

The 2019 True Grit scholarship recipient is Anthony Gougousis. Anthony, a 4-year Tracy High wrestler who carried a 4.0 GPA during his senior campaign was recognized by his coaches for his years of participation on the wrestling team while maintaining the balance of student first, athlete second and excelling in both.

Congratulations Anthony. For past recipients of this prestigious honor, click here.

Stats 2018-19 Season

Stat leaders (top 5) in each category. Varsity matches only.

Takedowns

T2
Eli Blackwell70
Alex Gougousis53
Anthony Gougousis35
Jonathon Uhl34
Anthony Nunes29

Reversals

R2
Eli Blackwell19
Alex Gougousis13
Jonathon Uhl11
Anthony Gougousis11
Conner Lanthier7

Escapes

E1
Alex Gougousis30
Anthony Gougousis21
Jonathon Uhl19
Eli Blackwell18
Octavio Torres11

Nearfalls

N2, N3, N4

Eli Blackwell31220
Alex Gougousis18100
Jonathon Uhl1380
Anthony Nunes1361
Conner Lanthier900

Falls/Pins

Falls
Eli Blackwell24
Anthony Nunes22
Conner Lanthier13
Alex Gougousis13
Jonathon Uhl9

Tracy High Wrestler, Gary Bairos, Being Inducted into Tracy Sports Hall of Fame

The Tracy Press has an article posted about this year’s inductees into the Tracy Sports Hall of Fame.

As a Tracy High wrestler, Gary Bairos, class of 1981, won the San Joaquin Athletic Association title four times. He went on to win two subsection titles and a Sac-Joaquin Section title and was a California Interscholastic Federation runner-up before heading to Arizona State University, where he became the 1986 Pac-10 champion and NCAA All-American.

Full article available here

Spring Wrestling

Don’t get left out of off-season improvement. You need to practice and compete in the spring in order to make the necessary improvements to be at the top of your wrestling growth as an athlete. Parents and athletes – join our Sprint Wrestling GroupMe for the latest details.

You can join the group by clicking this link: https://groupme.com/join_group/48920387/WV7V9zon

Or if you have GroupMe installed, by using this QR code to join.

Equipment Return

With the end of the wrestling season for our JV wrestlers, and some varsity wrestlers over the next couple of weeks, it is important that you return your equipment that has been issued to you. This includes any singlet(s), head gear, hair net, knee pads, etc. If you plan on participating in wrestling activities not sponsored by the school, please see coach Blackwell for uniform alternatives if you do not own a singlet.

The absolute last day to return equipment will be at our awards night. Look to this website for future details as to the time/location. Typically late March or Early April. After the awards night, any unreturned equipment will be reported to the book keeper.

The awards night will also be the time to pick up any items that you are due such as team and individual photos, apparel if you purchased any from a parent, etc. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact your coaches.