With a full and healthy lineup, Mira Costa’s wrestling team is prepared to make a strong run for second consecutive Bay League and CIF championships but still has some work to do.
“We had a lot of injuries early on and kids out due to involvement in other sports, so it was a slow start,” Mira Costa coach Jimmy Chaney explained. “But, now we are picking it up and I think we have a good chance to repeat, but it won’t be easy. La Puente and Shadow Hills are both looking good this year.”
Defending champion Mira Costa is ranked No. 3 in the CIF-Southern Section Southern Division behind Shadow Hills and La Puente.
Last Thursday, Mira Costa recorded an impressive 45-21 victory at Peninsula, the No. 8 ranked team in the Southern Division.
The Mustangs wrestle at Beverly Hills today, then compete in the Millikan Tournament on Saturday before concluding the regular season with a home dual meet against rival Redondo on Tuesday.
“Redondo has some really tough wrestlers, but they have a few forfeits this year,” Chaney said. ”That will give us an advantage, though their individuals are always tough.”
Redondo coach Arond Schonberg is suffering the ups and downs of building a strong wrestling program.
“Our wrestlers have had moments where they performed above expectations and some where they performed below expectations,” Schonberg said. ”Wrestling is 90 percent mental and it’s finding a way to stay mentally tough for six minutes straight that is critical.”
Schonberg feels his best weight classes are 106, 126, 132 and 182.
“We need good performances from those wrestlers to keep it close and competitive against Mira Costa,” Schonberg said. ”We are a young team, mostly freshmen and sophomores, and have a lot of holes in our lineup. We are looking to gain experience and execute our brand of wrestling which is to stay fundamental and keep mental mistakes to a minimum. If we do those things, no matter what the score, it will be a victory for Redondo Wrestling.”
Mira Costa is strong with underclassmen having only five seniors the team.
“Sophomore Jared Williams and returning CIF-placer junior Jean Paul LeBosnoyani are our top wrestlers right now. But, we also have a strong line up with others who can place in CIF.”
Competing in the 152-pound weight class, Williams has first-place finishes in the South Tournament and West Invitational, placed second in the 30-team Mater Dei Tournament and third in the elite 40-team Rosemead Tournament.
Senior captains Matt Savino (152 pounds), Alex Chaney (145) and Niilo Niemi (195) provide valuable experience for the Mustangs who have also had strong performances from sophomore Luca Mangiarano and freshman Jacob Gordon
“I think the key to winning back-to-back CIF Championships will be our ability to stay healthy,” Chaney said. ”If we are healthy we have a legitimate shot at winning. We believe as a team that it is ours to take.”
Mira Costa’s girls wrestling program is also flourishing in what is the fastest growing female sport in the CIF.
The team is led by sophomore Sasha Medvidovic (150) who took first place at the Varsity Girl’s Tournament at Carter High School where she defeated two of last year’s state qualifiers during the competition.
“Even our girls team has been set back a bit due to injuries this year,” Chaney said. “We have about 12 girls this season who have been competing in tournaments and have a really bright future.”
