Pacifica Youth Wrestlers Shine in Local Tournament

Pacifica’s Leviathan Wrestling Club hosted its first youth wrestling tournament at Terra Nova High School on April 18th. The tournament attracted Bay Area Wrestling Association athletes from San Francisco Elite to Burlingame Intermediate School. Youth wrestling tournaments are organized with pooled weigh classes so that kids in a small age/weight range can compete against each other is a safe, learning-oriented environment.

Leviathan’s smallest wrestler, Celeste Grabowski – 68lbs – had a very big day. In her first match she beat Lucia Potter of the Coastside Grapplers by pin. Her second match, against Natalia Ortiz of Coastside, was also won by pin. In her final match, she beat Joseph Hubbard of SF Elite 14-1 to come out on top of her pool.

Brandon Bigler – 72lbs – fought up to the 80 lb bracket and dominated his weight class, defeating Coastside’s Dane Potter 17-0. His second match against Coastside’s A.J. Frank was a nail biter. Bigler, a shorter wrestler, couldn’t hold Frank down, as Frank bridged forcefully and fought his way out of several pinning attempts using every inch of his frame to his advantage. In the end, the score was 10-4, and Bigler was the victor in his weight pool.

Kennon MacKinney wrestled in the 70lb pool. In his first match, he defeated Charlie Johnson of Coastside 7-5 in a closely contested and well balanced match. MacKinney, who started wrestling 3 weeks ago, lost to his more experienced teammate, Michael Bigler, in the next match. He was also defeated in his third round by Jacob Kleppin of SF Elite in a hard fought match that ended 5-9. Leviathan’s Michael Bigler did very well in the 70lb pool. He won his first match against SF Elite’s Kleppin 14-0. He then defeated Coastside’s Charlie Johnson 18-9. Johnson put up an excellent defense and utilized several successful arm locks. Bigler finished at the top of his weight pool.

In the 110 lb pool, Andres Uriostegui, who is new to the sport, defeated Coastside’s Yazmine Ortiz 8-2, rolling through throws and successfully keeping his opponent down. Leviathan’s Phoebe Grabowski had a first round bye, and in her second match, she also faced Ortiz. Grabowski completely dominated on the ground and won the match by pin. In the final round, Grabowski fought teammate Uriostegui but could not overcome his strength. Uriostegui won his weight pool; Grabowski took second.

Caspian Grabowski – 145lbs had no one to wrestle in his weight class. After some negotiating among the coaches, a match was arranged against a much heavier Shadi Haddad of Burlingame Intermediate School who also had no one in his weight class. Despite the difference in weight, it was a good, even match. Haddad won 7-4. Grabowski’s next match was also arranged among the coaches against a lighter but highly experienced SF Elite wrestler. Grabowski did his best to fend off his faster and older opponent, but he got caught in a spladle – legs split apart, body bent over the head, looking very much like a human pretzel. Getting up from the pin, Grabowski remarked “That was a pretty good stretch!” He may not have won a match, but he had a great attitude.

All of the kids had a great day, learned more about their sport, and made new friends. Leviathan accepts new wrestlers on an ongoing basis. Contact LeviathanWrestling@gmail.com for more information.