BHS Wrestling: Hopkins pleased with postseason progress

BARSTOW — Five Barstow High School wrestlers competed at the Greco Roman State Championships at Temecula Valley High School andtwo wrestlers advanced.

Sean Silva had the best tournament among Barstow wrestlers, reaching the finals in both the Cadet and Junior 119-pound division. Silva took second place in the Junior division. Silva won the first period 5-1 against Zach Zimmer, a Clovis West High School wrestler, but fell 4-3 in each of the final two periods. Silva made up for the runner-up spot the next day by winning the state championship in the Cadet division when he pinned his opponent 44 seconds into the second period.

Mario Ortega wrestled to a second place finish in the Fila Junior 145-pound division in grappling and also took sixth place in the Junior 145-pound division. He will move on to the state championships for grappling at the end of May.

Christian Salas wrestled to seventh place in the Cadet 140-pound division. Daniel Benavidez took sixth place in the Junior 152-pound division. Eighth-grader Drew Bosco also competed for the Aztecs and won a match.

“He made a commitment to me at the beginning of his eight grade year,” Hopkins said. “He getting there. He’s young.”

Hopkins and Silva have enjoyed the company of other wrestlers in the off season. Just a year ago the coach and wrestler duo were the only ones wrestling during the offseason.

 “With four or five guys following Sean it has made it that much easier,” Hopkins said. “They believe in themselves now. Some of them believe in what they are doing everyday, and it makes a difference. The offseason has been pretty nice so far.”

Hopkins said he sees his wrestlers performance as a clear indicator of progress for the Barstow High School wrestling program.

“All my athletes push me,” Hopkins said, who took over as coach of the wrestling program in November 2007. “The last eight months things have taken so many steps in the right direction.”

Hopkins said he’s even surprised at how fast success has come for the Aztecs.

“No, I wouldn’t guess that,” said Hopkins of taking five wrestlers to the Greco Roman State Championships. “It’s been really good to be a part of.”
The offseason is only just beginning for Silva. He’s qualified to travel to the Asics Cadet and Junior US Freestyle and Greco Roman National Championships in Fargo, N.D. in July for the second straight year as part of Team California. He’s headed to the Concord Youth Center in Concord to train will several other wrestlers from around the country and world on May 28 and then departs for National Duals for Team California on June 20 in St. Louis.

Hopkins and Silva are collecting donations to help fund his wrestling trips. Anyone interested in making a donation can contact Hopkins at Barstow High School at (760) 255-6110. The donation is tax deducible through U.S.A. Wrestling.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4124 or
matthew_peters@link.freedom.com