The Gladiators competed at the 2024 Enter the Den at Ukiah High School on Sunday, January 28. The tournament featured multiple divisions including Kindergarten through 5th grade, Middle School Girls, JV Middle School, and Middle School TOC which is a qualifier for the Tournament of Champions.
In the K-5 division team score, the Gladiators led the way with 88.5 team points. Coming in 2nd place was Petaluma Wrestling Club with 44 points. Taking 3rd were the Willits Grappling Pack with 32.5 points.
In the Middle School TOC division, the Gladiators came out on top edging Ukiah Wrestling Club 36.5 to 33 total team points. Baechtel Grove took 3rd with 17.5 points.
Overall the Gladiators came in 2nd place with 137 points, trailing only Ukiah Wrestling Club, who had 167 points. Fort Bragg Middle School came in 3rd with 107 points.
There was plenty of hardware that came home as the Gladiators had 12 wrestlers take 1st, 6 placed 2nd, and 6 took 3rd.
Among those wrestlers, Laylony Barocio, Logun Whittle, Riley Givens, Kailaya Philpot, and Ryder White Eagle TOC qualified. The Tournament of Champions is “recognized as the most competitive junior high tournament in California.” The TOC will take place Saturday, March 2nd at Del Oro High School in Loomis.
“These kids grind it out each and every practice and the results showed today. We are three months into the season and they all are consistently improving each day, each practice, and each tournament.” Coach Peter. “A lot of people believe that wrestling is an individual sport but it takes a team to get these kids to where they need to go. The most important person to this team is that teammate. Having a great partner in practice is essential. Without it, there isn’t much room for growth. Iron sharpens Iron and if you came into the practice room , you will see these Gladiators get after it, pushing each other to do their best and I am very proud of their efforts.”
Gladiators taking 1st in the K-5 division were Maverick Paminto- 2 pins
Elijah Tucker- 2 pins
John Young- 1 pin
Kaitlyn Crow- 1 pin
Brantley Paminto- 4 pins
Thomas Philpot- 2 pins
Kameron Colston
Leroy Hopkins- 1 pin
In the Middle School TOC Division placing 1st
Laylony Baracio- 3 pins
Riley Givens- 2 pins
Middle School Girls Division placing 1st
Sade Cook- 3 pins
Middle school JV Boys taking 1st
Michael Garner- 1 pin
Taking 2nd in the K-5 Division were
Fredrick Jeffries- 2 pins
Nevaeh Baracio
Said Flores- 2 pins
In the TOC division coming in 2nd place:
Kailaya Philpot- 1 pin
Ryder White Eagle- 1 pin
Logun Whittle- 3 pins 1 tech
Placing 3rd in the K-5 group were
Colin Crow- 3 pins
Hector Baracio- 2 pins
Michael Cox- 2 pins
Tyler Luciano
Jayden Garcia- 1 pin
Branson Whittle
Placing 4th in K-5 was 4th Jameson Philpot- 1 pin 1 tech.
