Leviathan Wrestling Club Hosts The Beach Brawl

Leviathan Wrestling Club hosted the first fall season wrestling tournament for the Bay Area Wrestling Association on Saturday, October 3 at Terra Nova High School. The Beach Brawl, sponsored by NorCal Surf Shop and ShoreView Dental, drew over 100 participants form as far away as Folsom, Ukiah, Gilroy, and Sacramento. Many of the youth wrestlers were State and Western Regional placers, and the high school entrants included a CCS champion and California National Team members.

Seventeen Leviathan wrestlers participated in this folkstyle event. It was the first tournament ever for many of them, including brothers Sam and Josh Smith. Six year old Sam Smith lost his first match by pin to Gabe Nunez from the Bayshore Bears. Gabe’s dad is coach Ernie Nunez from El Camino High. Losing your first match is hard for any wrestler, but it’s especially hard for a little guy at his first tournament. Sam’s teammates rallied around him, and with most of his older teammates at mat side to cheer him on, Sam put on his game face and went out on the mat again. In his second match, he pinned Avery Ruiz from Bayshore, and he went on to pin his third opponent, Gabriel Gonzalez from the Gilroy Hawks. Sam placed 2nd.

Sam’s older brother, 8 year old Josh Smith competed in his first wrestling tournament as well. Josh lost his first round to a Noah Martinez of Healdsburg 8-14. Josh got in several good shots and takedowns, but could not make up the scoring deficit. In his next match, Josh faced Aurora King from Sacramento, who placed at the State meet last spring. Josh lost by pin. Going into his third match 0-2, Josh knew he was in for a battle, but Josh is not stranger to overcoming adversity. Josh was born with half a heart, and he has undergone several open-heart surgeries. Despite his diminished cardio-vascular capacity, Josh trains just as hard as the rest of his teammates, and with his teammates cheering him on, Josh walked onto the mat with the heart of a champion to face Jennifer Wells from Elk Grove. Josh was ahead by one point going into the 3rd round. He scored a takedown from neutral position but was reversed. Josh managed to get an escape point and went on to score a final takedown to win 6-4. Josh placed 3rd.

Johnny Shores, son of former Oceana wrestler, Dude Shores, also competed in his first wrestling tournament. Johnny had only one competitor in his weight class; Ian Archer of Cyclone Wrestling. The pair was evenly matched with heavy hand fighting and tactical plays for dominant position. In the second round, Johnny shot and took down his opponent and then began to put in his half Nelson. Archer fought him off time and again, attempting to stand while Johnny struggled to get into a good position to turn him over. Finally, Johnny’s patience and persistence paid off, and he was able to turn his opponent and place his weight high enough to force the shoulders to the mat. Johnny won by pin. Archer asked to have a rematch, and since it is sometimes difficult to find opponents in their weight class, Johnny’s coach agreed. Johnny won the rematch by pin as well.

Leviathan wrestlers are coached by Samuel Ayala. The team practices Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in the Terra Nova mat room from 6-8 PM. For more information on the team, contact LeviathanWrestling@gmail.com