If you graduated from Rio Vista High School prior to 2016, you probably don’t remember having a wrestling team. That’s the year that five brave boys strapped on singlets and headgear for the first time in the 100-plus year history of the school. Eight years later, the work done by Coaches Chris Smith, Brian Bellante and Tyler Yates, along with others who helped pave the way, is starting to pay dividends.
Rio Vista Wrestling had a banner season. Among their accomplishments: league tournament championships for both boys and girls teams, eleven individual league finalists, eight league champions, thirteen qualifiers to divisionals, five Masters qualifiers, two Masters’ medalists, a state qualifier, four out of the five All League MVP awards, a league banner for girls and a team D6 Divisional Championship title for the boys!
Individual league championships were won by Kaleo Ybanez, Tony Bellante, Charlie Jeffers, Mikey Lorton, Ian Vieira, Jaden Evans, Madison DeGroot and Chloe Goddard. Tony, Kaleo, Jaden and Chloe took home All League MVP honors as the most outstanding wrestlers in their weight group.
Damien Castellanos, Emmett Medders and Kelan Metzler-Pell took silver at the league tournament of eight teams. Miguel Magana and Tristan Davis also qualified for the post season with top four finishes.
The boys team then traveled to Hughson High School for the D5/D6 divisional tournament, where they came home with a blue championship banner as the top D6 team in the Sac Joaquin section. Three wrestlers, Tony, Mikey and Ian, came away with medals. Girls wrestled at the regional qualifier in Natomas, where Jaden and Chloe finished on the podium. These five then competed in the Masters tournament at the Stockton Arena. Chloe placed 5th at Masters, while Jaden finished 7th; one shy of qualifying for State.
The Rams ended their season with a trip to the CIF State Tournament, in Bakersfield. At State, sophomore lady wrestler Chloe Goddard wrestled to a 2-2 record, placing her as one of the top 16 wrestlers in her weight class in the state of California.
According to Coach Smith, the Rams have a lot to look forward to. Many young wrestlers will be returning next year, and Rio Vista Wrestling should be able to keep their momentum moving forward to accomplish more impressive things in the coming years. The team is always looking for tough young men and women to join them. Spring training will begin soon.
RIO VISTA WRESTLING
(209) 743-5728