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The CCS will turn to Logan Kellogg and Jeff Tran to try and be the first 171 lbs. placers at the CIF tournament since Hunter Collins (above) of Gilroy in 2008.

At a coaching clinic this past weekend, I had the privilege to see 2008 California State Champion and four time state placer Hunter Collins display a simple pre-practice warm up routine. Missing were his patented Ben Askren-esque curly locks and Gilroy High School wrestling attire, which were replaced by clothes pressed with “M” emblems on them, which represent the University of Michigan, the college he wrestles for now. He demonstrated the tiresome sparring that he took part in at Gilroy High School, his alma mater. He showed the coaches top work tactics, and he showed off his super duck under, which looked as smooth as water pouring from a glass.  Just a few minutes had passed and I could see the look on some of the coaches’ faces in the room looking on with a sense of relief that their own 171 lbs. wrestlers would not have to face this person any longer. And I don’t blame them. Even at my age now, I’d probably be hesitant to have faced him when he was a freshman. But I think that behind those relieved faces were mixed senses of forlornness. It’s been a year and a half since the Central Coast Section’s 171 lbs. pride and joy has left, and now the section is left wondering when its next “Hunter Collins” will come along.

Looking forward into the 2009-2010 season, the Central Coast Section will try to develop a deeper and more experienced 171 lbs. weight class, and it will have to start with its two returning place winners from 2009 and their supporting cast. With the top four placers from 2009, Zack Blumenfeld of Gunn, Jason Luchetti of Terra Nova, Devan Santos of Palma, and Omar Al-Helew of Santa Teresa, leaving, Logan Kellogg (Jr.) of San Lorenzo Valley will enter the 2009-2010 season looking to climb up to the top spot of the CCS winners’ podium after coming up a win short of qualifying for the CIF State Tournament last season. He began his post season last year with a 1st place finish at the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Finals. His finishes at the Peninsula Invitational (4th), Central Coast Team Duals (1st), Cupertino Memorial Tournament (2nd), Big Valley Classic (5th at 160 lbs.), and Mission San Jose Invitational (4th at 160 lbs.), along with his SCCAL Championship, earned Kellogg the 2nd seed in the 171 lbs. weight bracket at the Central Coast Section Championships.

Through the first two rounds, Kellogg’s road into the CCS finals match seemed imminent. He pinned Adan Rivera of Mt. Pleasant in 2:22 and posted a 9-0 major decision over Doug Tomlinson of Los Altos. However, upstart Devan Santos of Palma was concurrently mounting some momentum of his own. The Tri County Athletic League Champion pinned Nick Bruno of Archbishop Mitty in 3:38 and Noah DeLaCruz of Pajaro Valley in 0:59. The match-up that ensued as a result, between Kellogg and Santos, resulted in a 7-1 decision for Santos, and Kellogg was left to continue grappling in the wrestlebacks. In the consolation bracket Kellogg defeated Rob Reidler of King City in a 7-1 decision, and SCCAL rival Trevor Perrigo of Harbor in a 6-3 decision, but was defeated by Omar Al-Helew. Al-Helew, who was the top seed and was upset by eventual CCS champion Zack Blumenfeld, came out on top with a 5-4 decision. Kellogg then faced Jeff Tran of Milpitas, defeating him in a 10-3 decision to take 5th place.

Jeff Tran of Milpitas, on the other hand, didn’t have the same good start as Kellogg. Right out of the gate, Tran went up against top seeded Al-Helew and was pinned in 1:04. Subsequently, Tran made a remarkable run of five straight wins in the consolation bracket, pinning Cesar Coronado of Alisal in 3:21, pinning Doug Tomlinson in 4:30, defeating Gilroy’s Michael Penyascek in a 12-6 decision, beating out Jordan Rivera of Prospect in a 10-4 decision, and edging out Raul Rauda of South San Francisco in a 7-6 decision, and was set to match up against Palma’s Santos. These two had met before with Tran victorious, but this time Santos was too much and he pinned Tran in 4:45 en route to his 3rd place finish. Tran would end up finishing with a 10-3 loss to Kellogg to take 6th and end the tournament with five wins and three losses.

Others to watch in this class include seniors Trevor Perrigo of Harbor, Jordan Rivera of Prospect, and Martin Alvarez of Cupertino. Perrigo, the SCCAL runner-up, finished the CCS Tournament with three wins and two losses at the hands of Raul Rauda and 5th place finisher Kellogg. Rivera, the Blossom Valley Athletic League runner-up, finished the tournament with two wins and suffered losses to tournament champion Blumenfeld and 6th place finisher Tran. In the regular season he placed 4th at Lou Bronzan, 2nd at the Central Coast Team Duals, and 6th at the Big Valley Classic, all while competing in the 189 lbs. weight class. He finished 2nd at the Jim Root Classic and 5th at Mid Cals wrestling at 171 lbs. Alvarez, the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League Champion, of Cupertino finished with three wins at the CCS Tournament and suffered losses to Jason Luchetti of Terra Nova, who was the 2nd place finisher at the CCS Tournament, and to Rauda. He placed 4th at the Overfelt Tournament and 8th at Mid Cals.

Kellogg and Tran, along with the trio of Perrigo, Rivera, and Alvarez, are all positive starting points for the section. However, when four of the five graduate after next season, the Central Coast Section may be back to the drawing board. But who knows?  There could be another special freshman or sophomore out there that comes along to reign over the weight class for the next three or four years. And maybe it will be just as dominant and as impressive as the way Hunter Collins did it.

Watch Hunter Collins face off against Jake Meredith of Temecula in the 2008 171 lbs. state finals here.

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Photo courtesy of Hollister Freelance.