Led by Miles Gilliam and Jimmy Millea, Mira Costa’s top-ranked wrestling team will be grappling for a CIF title when Redondo hosts the CIF-Southern Section Southern Division Dual Meet Championships on Saturday.
Gilliam (172 pound) and Millea (Heavyweight) are coming off first-place finishes in the Gold Division of the Millikan Invitational Tournament last Saturday.
Mira Costa is ranked No. 1 in the Southern Division and Mustang head coach Jimmy Chaney expects his squad to emerge victorious.
“If everyone stays healthy we should win it,” Chaney said. “I believe our toughest match will be against Desert Mirage. They have some really good wrestlers. It will probably come down to who has the most pins.”
Chaney has built the Mora Costa wrestling program into a powerhouse after the team finished second to West Torrance in the Bay League and a top-eight finish in CIF last season.
Mira Costa defeated former Bay League nemesis West (now in the Pioneer League) 47-20 this season and placed sixth in the 50-team West Coast Classic tournament held at Rosemead earlier this season.
Chaney mentioned the following wrestlers as having placed in tournament and playing vital roles in the Mustang’s top ranking: Alejandro Ruiz, Lars Cameron, Luca Mangiarano, Cale Lewis, Kelly McNamee, Alex Chaney, Matt Savino, Jason Guerrero, Aaron Schwab, Jean Paul Le Bosnoyani, Wyatt Wiggins, Jamal Williams, Niilo Niemi and Malik Smith.
“I believe Gilliam and Millea have the best chances win CIF title,” Chaney said. “But everyone else on the roster above has the potential to place in CIF. Our team has that much depth this year.”
Millea has turned in impressive performances this season winning the 285-pound division at the West Coast Classic and Laguna Hills tournaments and placing third at the 63-team Tournament of Champions held Jan. 2-3 at Cerritos College.
Gilliam finished second ay Laguna Hills and placed third at the West Coast Classic and Tournament of Championship competition.
Redondo once again hosts the CIF championships and, although the Sea Hawks didn’t qualify for a team title, Redondo coach Around Schoenberg said Gerald Nellum has a chance to win the 195-pound weight class when the Individual Championships are held at Grand Terrace High School on Feb. 20-21.
Nellum captured first place at Laguna Hills, finished second at the Juan Enriquez Memorial at john Glenn High School and was sixth at the Tournament of Champions at Cerritos College.
The Masters Meet will be held Feb. 27-28 at Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario followed by the CIF State Meet on March 6-7 at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.
