Oceanside seeks conference title

Oceanside wrestlers must learn and improve consistently to win a conference crown for the program’s first time since 2004, said coach Julio Flores.

Now in his sixth year at the helm, Flores suspects he has the talent to come out atop Conference 1B. His other goals are to send a minimum of 12 wrestlers to the county championship tournament in February, with at least three among them earning All-County status. Seniors and co-captains Dan Fishman and Sam Burns and sophomore Justin Marine, all fearless and technically sound wrestlers, are the likely trio.  

After achieving All-County honors in the 106 weight class in February, Fishman underwent off-season knee surgery and will compete at 120 when he returns in January.

“We really can’t wait to have Dan back in the lineup,” Flores said. “He’s a stud and even though he’ll only wrestle for half a season, I know he’s going to get a lot of wins for us and do really well in counties.”

Burns brings his outstanding stamina and technique to the 126-pound class this season, while Marine will try to impress again after catching his coach’s eye with 28 varsity wins as a freshman.

“That alone tells you that this kid is the real deal,” Flores said of Marine, who took third in 138 at the Battle of the Beach tournament in Long Beach on Dec. 1.

Isaac Barahona and Dan Monge are promising juniors who push each other daily at practice. Weighing 182 last winter, Barahona dropped 40 pounds and will use his exceptional speed, stamina and aggressiveness to compete at 145, while Monge has shown consistent improvement from wrestling at 138 last season to competing at 152 where he’s already notched pins in meets versus South Side and Roslyn.

The Sailors had a young, senior-less squad last season that has since nearly doubled to almost 50 wrestlers, a number that Flores believes will help motivate them to vie for time on the mat.

“I have first-year guys who have never wrestled challenging for a varsity spot because everyone wants a piece of the pie,” he added. “So, I think it keeps everybody on their toes.”

Among the young-guns challenging for time is freshman Anthony Ferrato, who shows natural abilities and fight competing at 120.

For the first time under Flores, Oceanside has three wrestlers in the 285 class. Leading the heavyweights is return starter Jared Gonzales, a 283-pounder, followed by fellow junior Jay Jackson, a quick wrestler who tips the scales at 245, and fiery freshman Matt Maldonado, who at 265 wrestled for the first time at Battle of the Beach.

Focused, determined and especially aggressive, Luke Strianese also had pins against South Side and Roslyn wrestling at 106 and 113 respectively, and fellow sophomore Luke Statler is inquisitive, coachable and relentless on the mat.

The team’s other seniors include the energetic Parker Jervis, who wrestles at multiple weight classes but will probably stay at 170 as the season matures, and Joe Amir, whose return is indefinite after suffering a wrist injury during practice.