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After looking at my notes over and over, and searching other sites, reading forums and analyzing statistics on the upcoming season’s 189 lbs. weight class, I have finally came to an ilation. I believe this year that two wrestlers will distinctly stand out in this season’s upcoming 189 lbs. weight division.  However, just to be certain, I thought that I’d use my “text a friend option” for some additional consideration. And I figured who else better to call upon than someone who might have some of the most experience against the top returners other than 2009′s 189 lbs. Central Coast Section Champion, Will Eleazar, formerly of Aragon High School in San Mateo. Well, without providing any persuasion or intimidating him (too much) to accept my perspectives and outcome, his conclusion was purely identical to mine. The two front runners to stand atop of the 189 lbs. podium next year at the CCS Championships are Alan Yen of Saratoga and Maison Davis of Hillsdale in San Mateo.

Maison Davis you ask? Or more specifically, the inquiry may be into the whereabouts of Maison Davis been since his stellar sophomore season from 2007-2008? As an assistant coach for last season’s Hillsdale squad, I fielded this question from other coaches and wrestlers alike at every tournament numerous times, and even asked if I was Maison! (Maybe even implying that as a 26 year old, I still have the physical qualities of a 16 year old, which I’m still not certain on how to take).  Well, all I can say about him now is that he’s around, and he is preparing himself adequately for the upcoming season.

I first encountered Davis in the summer of 2008 while working out during one of Skyline College’s summer open mat session. A coach had pointed him out to me and whispered “that kid is tough.” I looked at him and sized him up. ” Is he the 184 pounder?” The coach answered back, “No, 189 pounds in high school.” I was in disbelief. He was holding his own very well, and actually quite successfully, in a room where his competition was primarily junior college wrestlers. We ended up wrestling together for a little bit and he was just as tough as advertised. He was strong, wrestled intelligently, and didn’t expose too many flaws to capitalize on: all characteristics that very high level wrestlers posses. I eventually wound up running into him a few times that summer at the Peninsula Wrestling Club summer sessions where he and Eleazar would grapple together while a lot of the other wrestlers in the room would also watch them out of the corner of their eyes. After all, it was a state qualifier caliber workout they were all witnessing, as well as a possible preview of that year’s CCS finals match up.

Davis entered the 2008-2009 season fresh off of accomplishing some impressive achievements. He took 6th place in the previous year’s section finals, after, unfortunately, defaulting from each match after the semifinals, as only a sophomore. That off season he placed 2nd in California in Cadet Freestyle and Greco-Roman while also placing 5th in the Juniors Division, and he also earned three wins in the 2008 Greco-Roman Cadet National Tournament in Fargo, ND. From the beginning of the season he came in sharp and with a mindset to take on the toughest competition in the state. However, a setback prohibited him from this challenge just a few weeks into the season as Davis sustained a season ending knee injury. Rather than rush and push for a quick rehabilitation and still face uncertainty about returning to wrestling, Davis opted for surgery and to have the ability to properly rehabilitate the injury, and be completely ready for the 2009-2010 season.

Saratoga's Alan Yen seeks to surpass last season's accomplishments by winning the 189 lbs. CCS title and making a deep run in the CIF tournament.

Alan Yen of Saratoga, on the other hand, has ceased to slow down since his breakout season from 2007-2008, when he also went to Cadet Freestyle Nationals in Fargo and earned three victories. Last season, Yen placed 3^rd at the Coast Classic, 5^th at the Sierra Nevada Classic, 4^th at Mid Cals, 3^rd at the Mission San Jose Tournament, and was the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League Champion. At the Central Coast Section Tournament, Yen pinned Steve Rhodes of Woodside in 4:54 and posted an 8-6 decision over Bellarmine’s Tony Oreglia, who placed 4^th in the section, before accomplishing an amazing upset over the 189 lbs. Goliath, Zach Jimenez, of Palma. Prior to that match, Jimenez had faced Yen once and won that match by a pin in 3:19. In addition, Jimenez was also entering the bout with some intimidating momentum, winning his first three matches by a 12-1 major decision, a pin in 1:22, and a 17-1 technical fall over Ben Oliver of Freemont, Jesus Zamarripia of San Jose, and Mason Hayden of Santa Teresa, respectively. Despite these factors, Yen beat the odds and came out 4-3 decision, thus setting up a finals match against a very familiar foe, 2^nd seeded Will Eleazar of Aragon.  The two faced off on numerous occasions throughout the season, with Eleazar taking the lion’s share of victories. This instance was possibly the most exhilarating as it went down to the final seconds to be determined. Yen was ahead by a score of 4-3 with less than ten seconds remaining in the final period. However, Eleazar managed to execute a reversal and gain near fall points on Yen to come out on top 7-4 and walk away as the 2009 CCS Champion. Despite the finals loss, Yen’s post season continued into the CIF State Tournament.

In the opening round of the CIF Tournament, Yen faced off against Nokolai Crouch, a highly talented graduated senior from Sante Fe (2^nd place finisher in Southern Section) that finished as the California 189 lbs. runner-up, and lost by a fall in 5:13. Yen won two matches in the consolation bracket, first against Wade Jackson of Kingsburg (6^th place finisher in Central Section) by a 9-7 decision, and then against Justin Baffico of Freedom (4^th place finisher in North Coast Section), and was eventually defeated by James Chandless from Marysville (6^th place finisher in Sac-Joaquin Section) to end his tournament run. However, Yen’s wrestling didn’t end there. He continued to take the same route as he has taken in previous years and participated in Freestyle during the off season to help supplement his Folkstyle wrestling. He participated in the National Duals as a member of California Wrestling and he competed in the 2009 Freestyle National Tournament, this time in the Juniors Division, and posted two victories.

Davis will have to go through the regular trial and tribulations of coming back and getting into wrestling shape after sustaining an injury, including breaking down any mental barriers such as hesitancy or tentativeness to   Although Davis has been working out to return to his pristine form, Yen’s training and accomplishments indicate that a clear shot straight to the championship won’t come easily. Either way, these two would make for a remarkable finals match up. That is unless any other members of the 189 lbs. weight class look to stand in their way.

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Photo courtesy of Tech-Fall.