ROUNDUP: Sierra Vista senior finds inspiration in Bulldog Grappler

Sierra Vista’s Daniel Strbac felt defeated.

Trailing 4-2 to start the final period of the 160-pound championship match Saturday at the Bulldog Grappler at Centennial, Strbac didn’t how he could regain the advantage on Palo Verde’s Jake Castro.

Glancing into the stands, the Mountain Lions senior saw his mother. Then, his thoughts drifted to his ailing father, waiting at home because of a heart condition as he has throughout his son’s four-year wrestling career.

And that was all the motivation he needed.

With a swift reversal, Strbac rolled hard and grabbed Castro’s head in a single motion, laying him flat for a pin in 5 minutes, 44 seconds to take first place at the tournament.

“I’m happy that my hard work is paying off,” Strbac said. “When my friends were hanging out or partying over the summer, I was wrestling ... and lifting weights.

“It’s all for my coaches, my family. They keep me moving and keep me inspired.”

Strbac scored the first points of his match on a second-period takedown, but Castro nailed a reversal while the Sierra Vista wrestler was locking hands to take the 4-2 edge into the final period.

“I honestly didn’t know what to do,” Strbac said. “I thought he had me. He was too tough, too relentless, and I didn’t think I’d be able to get up.

“But I was always told to keep the pressure going and fighting hard. Hopefully he’d give me something I could use.”

The confusion quickly disappeared as Strbac immediately leapt away for an escape point and then used a head-and-arm roll to reverse Castro after the Panthers wrestler took him down again.

“When I tried to roll him with one arm, I couldn’t get it,” Strbac said. “But I think I accidentally hooked his head, saw an opportunity and took it.”

The Panthers ran away with the team title with 213 points after qualifying 11 wrestlers for the finals, including six champions.

 

Tournament outstanding wrestlers Jordan Hart (112) and Marcus Judd (171) led the way for Palo Verde, which also got titles from Rob Buckhannon (130), Kyle Leet (135), Paul Educate (140) and Zarquis Garcia (145).

“We’ve put in a lot of matches this season, with everyone of us working hard, and it’s really paying off with everyone coming on strong this year,” said Judd, who avenged a loss to Devon Montgomery of Pine View (Utah) at the Green Valley Duals with his 10-2 championship win. “We’re showing a lot of depth, just winning matches and winning points.”

Centennial finished second with 140 points, including titles from Alec Gonzales (103), Lawrence Easley (189) and Jordan Karst (215).
Bonanza’s Mike Zellner (119) and Eldorado’s Mike Williams (285) also won individual titles.

 

Host Shadow Ridge had eight individual champions en route to 413 points and the title of its own tournament.

Austin Rumsey (112), Bobby Gallardo (125), Spencer McKee (135), Chett Prince (152), Nick McDearmon (160), Michael Tootle (171), Brandon Fisher (189) and Jordan Kurth (215) each won an individual title for the Mustangs.

Legacy finished second with 308 points, followed by Silverado (297), Foothill (272) and Desert Oasis (253).

The Diamondbacks were led by a trio of champions in Chase Jury (119), Joel Reddick (140) and Nathaniel Cavazos (145).

Foothill’s Sean Miller (103-pound champion) and Silverado’s Seth Bohman (285 champ) were named outstanding wrestlers of the tournament. Andrew Burr (130) also took first for the Skyhawks.

 

Palo Verde 213, Centennial 140, Moffat County (Colo.) 110, Eldorado 88, Liberty 76½, Pine View (Utah) 68, Sierra Vista 52, Bonanza 42, Faith Lutheran 40, Barstow (Calif.) 34, Coronado 25.

103—Gonzales, Cen, p. Strobac, Palo, 2:27. 112—Hart, Palo, p. Espinoza, Bar, 3:49. 119—Zellner, Bon, d. Costa, Palo, 5-2. 125—Nelson, MoffCo, p. Dolby, FL, 3:05. 130—Buckhannon, Palo, d. Howell, Cen, 5-2. 135—Leet, Palo, d. Lott, Palo, Injury Default. 140—Educate, Palo, d. Wilson, Lib, inj. def. 145—Garcia, Palo, d. Leet, Bon, 7-2. 152—Griffiths, Moff, p. Urista, Palo, 3:19. 160—Strbac, SVis, p. Castro, Palo, 5:44. 171—Judd, Palo, d. Montgomery, PView, 10-2. 189—Easley, Cen, d. Adams, Moff, 10-3. 215— Karst, Cen, d. Winslow, Moff, 11-8.  285—Williams, Eld, p. Wilson, Cen, 2:38.

103—Perez, Eld, p. Boccadaro, Lib, 1:55. 112—Smith, PView, d. Silvey, Eld, 12-6. 119—Gamez, Cen, p. Peterson, Lib, 5:01. 125—Thomas, Cor, d. Henry, Eld, 5-4. 130—Abbott, Eld, d. Price, SVis, 6-3. 135—Lavaseur, SVis, d. Price, Eld, 4-0. 140—Holtfreter, FL, d. Stewart, MoffCo, 12-0. 145—Schneider, Cen, d. Haugh, Palo, 9-2. 152—Terell, Lib, d. Thompson, PView, 7-5. 160—Hatefi, Eldo, d. Nelson, MoffCo, 4-2. 171—Reveles, Lib, p. Thomas, Cor, 5:09. 189—Ratliff, Palo, d. Cisneros, Lib, 5-3. 215—Taase, Bar, d. Heaton, PView, DQ.  285—Schwalger, PView, d. Jones, SVis, 18-6.

Mustang Stampede
At Shadow Ridge
Team scores

Shadow Ridge 413, Legacy 308, Silverado 297, Foothill 272, Desert Oasis 253, Canyon Springs 188, Western 181, Mojave 138, Indian Springs 122, Clark 71

103—Miller, Foot, d. Bishop, Sil. 112—Rumsey, SR, d. J. Temple, Leg. 119—Jury, DO, d. Qureshi, Foot. 125—Gallardo, SR, d. C. Temple, Leg. 130—Burr, Sil, d. Van Real, SR. 135—McKee, SR, d. Castillo, CS. 140—Reddick, DO, d. Sargent, IS. 145—Cavazos, DO, d. Smith, CS. 152—Prince, SR, d. Evans, Leg. 160—McDearmon, SR, d. Carson, CS. 171—Tootle, SR, d. Jordan, Leg. 189—Fisher, SR, d. Palmer, DO. 215—Kurth, SR, d. Stigger, Foot. 285—Bohman, Sil, d. Smith, Moj.