Wrestling.Life is happy to partner with Aptos High School and CCS Honor Coach Reggie Roberts to help run the Pat Lovell Holiday Wrestling Classic.

This is the first year since the California Coast Wrestling Classic has changed names to the Pat Lovell Holiday Wrestling Classic after tournament founder Pat Lovell. Since the tournament moved to Aptos it has been increasing in size and quality. This year is no different with state championship teams from Washington and New Mexico making the trip. Nevada will also be represented at the tournament.

Lineups are still being finalized but we have an early look at seeding and some of the best match ups and deepest weight classes of the tournament (and I didn't really put in the out of state guys).

At 220 lbs., if everything goes as planned we will see the #1 and #3 ranked wrestlers in the state wrestling for the title. Victor Jaquez (Bellarmine) finished 5th in state last year (220 lbs.) making the state semi finals. Jaquez is also a Fargo Cadet All-American and a NHSCA Freshman All-American. He will be the #1 seed to Isaiah Perez (Pitman) who finished 4th in state last year (170 lbs.). Perez also finished 4th this year at the Super 32 Tournament.

At 120 lbs., Abel Pena (Watsonville), was the runner up in his first tournament back to action last year at the California Coast Wrestling Classic (113 lbs.) but avenged the loss in a dominant CCS finals performance. Pena is currently ranked #12 in the state at 120 lbs. and will be the #1 seed at 120 lbs. If all goes to plan (or seed) he will be facing Caydin Wickard (Golden Valley) in the finals. Wickard is currently ranked 7th at 113 lbs. and is coming off a Fargo All-American summer. Wickard finished 5th at the California Coast Wrestling Classic last year. Also, at 120 lbs. we also have #10 ranked (113 lbs.) Mario Moreno (Madera) who is no slouch and will have something to say about who makes the finals.

UPDATE at 195 lbs.! Brendan Tallent is now the 2nd Seed at 195 lbs. Matthew Martinez (Everett Alvarez) is the new #1. Martinez is ranked 6th in the state at 182 lbs. and is a 2x CCS Champion and state qualifier. Brendan Tallent (Pitman) will be the #2 seed and is currently ranked 8th in the state at 195 lbs. Tallent finished 5th in the SJS section last year and went 2-2 at the State Tournament. #3 seed Taniela Feliciano Takafua is currently ranked 11th at 195 lbs. He finished 2nd in the CCS (to Martinez) before going 0-2 at State. Sitting in the 4th seed is another returning state qualifier Justin Rentfro (Hilmar) who is ranked 12th at 182 lbs.

UPDATE! 126 lbs. is now on the watch list. Tony Margiotta (Las Lomas), who will be the #1 seed at 126 lbs. has been joined by Riley Saison (Everett Alvarez) who was originally slated to wrestle 132 lbs. Margiotta is a 3x CA State Qualifier, returning California Coast Wrestling Classic Champion, and will be the #1 seed at 126 lbs. Saison ranked #9 at 126 lbs. is a 3x state qualifier finishing 2-2 at the tournament last year. Saison will be the #2 seed at 126 lbs, not the #1 at 132 lbs.

UPDATE! At 106 lbs. Tristan Mascarenas (Cleveland, NM) is a returning State Finalist in New Mexico's division 6A at 106 lbs. and is our #1 seed. He is looking to finish his season with a State title this year and a Pat Lovell title would help build his confidence against some tough out of state experience. Jake Bennett (Lake Stevens, WA) is the #1 ranked wrestler in Washington's division 4A and will be, like Mascarenas, fighting through a slew plethora of CA wrestlers looking for the Lovell title.

Other wrestlers to watch include:

Dawson Sihavong (Bullard), who will be the #1 seed at 138 lbs. Sihavong is a USAW Folkstyle National Champion, returning state place winner, and USAW Greco All-American. Sihavong is currently ranked #4 in the state at 132 lbs.
Jeremy Ridge (Acalanes) ranked #11 at 152 lbs. Ridge will be the #1 seed at 152 lbs. Ridge finished a match out of state placement last year after finishing 3rd in the NCS.
Jose Quintero (Alisal) ranked #7 at 285 lbs. went 2-2 at state last year in the 220 lbs. division after finishing 3rd in CCS. He is the #1 seed at 285 lbs.
Tracy Hunter (Bullard) ranked #29 at 160 lbs. but will be our #1 seed after knocking off Bryce Mattson (San Benito) #15 at 160 lbs. at the Zinkin Tournament. Hunter went on a upset run at Zinkin beating #15 Mattson, #20 Anthony Martinez (Granada), and taking a forfeit from #1 Joel Romero (Buchanan) on his way to a 2nd place finish.