SAN MARCOSSAN MARCOS — Rancho Bernardo High wrestler Javen Jovero has a different attitude — perhaps that’s why in a month he’ll be headed to the Ivy League.
Jovero, his team’s lone senior, led 10 Broncos into the finals and was one of six champions to lead Rancho Bernardo to its third straight section title Saturday at the San Diego Section Division I Championship at Mission Hills High.
The Broncos finished with 239 points, well ahead of runner-up Mira Mesa with 179.
Jovero, ranked No. 1 in California by The California Grappler at 195 pounds, arguably spent the least amount of time on the mat than even those eliminated early in the day. He spent just 51 seconds wrestling all day.
After an opening-round bye, he won by a pin in eight seconds in the quarterfinals; 23 seconds in the semifinals and needed just 20 to down Mira Mesa’s Dylan Lagandaon in the finals.
But Jovero’s thoughts were on his teammates all day.
“It’s disappointing not going on (to Masters and State), but I’ve had three years of that already. I feel bad for the freshmen not getting their shot,” said Jovero. “I’ve had a lot of fun this year. We’ve bonded a lot on all the road trips, hotels and places we’ve been.”
Rancho Bernardo wrestlers came out firing, capturing the first four final championship matches — with Jovero right in their corner.
Junior Chris Tanner started the streak at 106 followed by sophomore Jacob Jones (113), Marcus Cano (120) and Brayden Concepcion (126).
Sophomore Ryan Badgett added a pin over Tyler Brown of host Mission Hills to take the 145-pound title.
Eastlake’s Tomas Jacobo ended the early Bronco run when he scored a 4-0 upset over Rancho Bernardo’s top-seeded Brandon Eusebio at 132, who was bothered by an injured ankle and knee.
“I feel very fortunate and thankful,” said Jacobo, a junior who finished fourth in Division I last year. “This is pretty big for me, hopefully it pays off for the future.”
Another junior with an impressive day was Mira Mesa’s Devhante Hayes. The 152-pounder decisioned Rancho Bernardo’s Richard Motas 6-3 in the final.
“I was actually kind of disappointed in my final,” explained Hayes. “I just wasn’t dominant enough. That, and not having State. I’ve been training for State, not CIF.”
Another senior ending his career on a positive note was Canyon Crest 160-pouner Kai Pellegrino. The top-seeded Raven downed Mission Hills’ Adam Huberts 11-9 in the final.
“It’s been a rough year,” said Pellegrino. “We only had five duals all year so I wasn’t sure just how sharp I’d be.”
Other champions on the day were: Liam Correa of El Camino (138), Mason Walsh and teammate Luke McLellan of Carlsbad (170 and 182 respectively), Kurtis Modlin of Mira Mesa (220) and Jayden Avila of Helix (285).
“It feels good to do it again,” said Rancho Bernardo coach Joe Eddie Terribilini of the school’s fourth title overall. “You can’t take anything for granted.”
Farmer is a freelance writer.
San Diego Section Championships
DIVISION I
At Mission Hills High
Team: 1. Rancho Bernardo 239; 2. Mira Mesa 179, 3. Eastlake 120; 4. San Marcos 119, 5. Carlsbad 109, 6. Patrick Henry 89, 7. Mission Hills 74, 8. Helix 74, 9. Canyon Crest 51.5, 10. Del Norte 51.
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Finals: 106 – Tanner (RB) tech fall Krause (PH) 20-5; 113 – Jones (RB) pin King (EL) 3:12; 120 – Caro (RB) dec. Antonio (MM) 7-4; 126 – Concepcion (RB) dec Wilson (SM) 4-0; 132 – Jacobo (EL) dec Eusebio (RB) 4-0; 138 – Correa (ECam) pin Donzella (RB) 5:02; 145 – Badgett (RB) pin Brown (MH) 2:11; 152 – Hayes dec Motas (RB) 6-3; 160 – Pelligrino (CnyC) dec Huberts (MH) 11-9; 170 – Walsh (Cbad) pin Hollander (PH) 5:49; 182– Dowdell (MM) dec McLellan (Cbad) 4-2; 195 – Jovero (RB) pin Lagandaon (MM) :20; 285 – Avila (Hx) pin Nodarse (RB) 2:00.
Third Place: 106 – Armstrong (SM) de Cahue (Cbad) 6-1; 113 – Tran (MM) maj dec Adler (PH) 14-2; 120 – Graves (Hx) maj dec Hanover (DN) 12-4; 126 – Viramontes (EL) maj dec Oliver (MM) 14-3; 132 – Nguyen (MM) dec Bettis (ECam) 3-2; 138 – Parker (Cbad) maj dec Brown (MH) 10-2; 145 – Vinoray (PH) dec Bernales (SM) 8-1; 152 – Adler (PH) dec Hopkins (SM) 5-1; 160 – Cervantes (EL) dec Berezni (SM) 7-0; 170 – Vestal (DN) dec Lam (MM) 11-6; 182 – Lo (Hx) pin Inzunza (EL) :56; 195 – Amado (EL) pin Martinez (DN) 2:20; 220 – Escalante (SD) pin Sgarlato (CynC) 1:27; 285 – Sanchez (Cbad) pin Haimovitch-Gore (MM) 4:31.
Outstanding lightweight – Liam Correa (El Camino, 140 pounds)
Ourstanding heavyweight – Javan Jovero (Rancho Bernardo, 195 pounds)
