Some unforeseen circumstances created some holes in Oceanside’s wrestling lineup before the roster was bolstered by a surprising influx of first-year senior competitors.
“These guys aren’t just here for the sake of being on the team,” Sailors coach Julio Flores said. “They’re really into it and working hard. They’ve all been very competitive and it’s nice to see them learning and progressing. I see all the potential. The tough part is we can’t keep them.”
Oceanside brought back only five wrestlers entering their fourth or third seasons in the program. It’s most accomplished returnee is sophomore Justin Marine, a qualifying tournament champion last winter who fell one win shy of earning All-County honors. He won 32 matches last season and headed into January needing 35 to reach the 100 plateau. “He’s looking pretty good with only a one-point loss in the Long Beach Tournament,” Flores said of Marine, a 145-pound captain. “He’s the same scrappy kid but only he’s gotten stronger, which is really going to help,” he added.
Marine took third place in the Battle at the Beach and was one of five Sailors to pick up a victory in a 51-30 non-league dual meet loss to rival Baldwin on Dec. 11. He had a pin in the first period against Jelani Dowe at 152.
Senior Dan Monge, expected to compete at 152 by season’s end, brings a lot of experience as well. “He’s coachable and aggressive,” Flores said. “He made the county tournament last year and we’re looking for him to get back and make a run to place.” Monge pinned Baldwin’s Joseph Ramirez in the 160-pound bout.