Special to La Prensa

The East Toledo Wrestling Club wrestled on April 14, 2007 at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio, with amazing results.

“The team as a whole wrestled extremely well at ‘The Terminator’ – one of the series of the Rocky Mountain Nationals,” said Hector Ramírez, assistant coach for ETWC. “We won the in-state, 12 years and under team championship.”

Teams for this event had to consist of 14 wrestlers maximum. “Our 12 and unders, remarkably, had eight first-year wrestlers,” said Ramírez.

Total number of wrestlers for both the younger group and the 13 and over was 17. Among those who participated were: Josh Kendall, Tommy Moon, and Nico Covarrubias. Placing sixth was Calixtro “Poppy” Mondragón and taking fourth was J. Glenn Burgess.

Finishing third were Jacob Moon (at 40 pounds and in his first year), Mario Guillen, Angelo Covarrubias, and Adam Abitua.

Among the wrestlers who got to the finals was Christian Ramírez. “Unfortunately it was the best two out of three with his teammate Hunter McKie,” said the proud dad.

Others who made it to the finals were: Mike Rodgers (40 pounds, first year), Chance Sonnenberg, Jake “the Snake” Staebler, and Alex Martínez (57 pounds).

“Alex wrestled probably the best I’ve seen him with the club,” said Ramírez. “His weight class was stacked and he upset some good kids. He even had the champ stuck momentarily, but ended up losing 8-7.”

ETWC wrestlers who brought home the gold were: Hunter McKie, 37 lbs, division I, first year; Jayson Kendall (who originally had no wrestlers in his weight class so he had to move to another); Oscar Sánchez (40 pounds, division 1, first year who pinned all three opponents and won the prestigious “6 and Under Most Valuable Wrestler Award”).

The team won the team trophy for 13 and over beating Team Miron and Sandusky Perkins – second and third respectively. They originally tallied the votes incorrectly but, in the end, justice was done.

ETWC coaches and staff helped to work the tournament.

Involved in the day’s affairs were: Val and Jerry Robinson (and their son Jerome who took a first place for Team Miron), Rene Burczynski, Roger, Sandy and Jake Staebler, Herman Abitua, the Sonnenbergs, the Mondragons, the Kendalls, the Covarrubiases. Coaching for the club: Head Coach Gary Burgess and assistants Hector Ramírez, Joe Campos, and J.R. Kendall.