Murrieta Valley High School hosted an AAU Wrestling Tournament Saturday. Wrestlers from all over Southern California flocked to the Nighthawks' Nest to compete. Wrestlers ranged from 5 to 18 years old. It was the first AAU tournament in Murrieta and the surrounding area ever, according to AAU records.
AAU Tournament Director David Loza said, “We had a great turnout for our first tournament at this school and the area. I can’t wait till we have our next event."
Local wrestlers did well in the tournament. In the Elementary Division, Cameron Owen from the Vista Murrieta Broncos Wrestling Club placed second in the 95-100 pound bracket.In the Middle School Division, Cody Fuess of the Murrieta Valley Golden Hawks Wrestling Club placed second in the 98-pound bracket and third in the 106-pound bracket. The Golden Hawks' Levy Jackson and Manny Rojas also had excellent matches at the event.
The Menifee Wrestling Club had two first-place finishers in the Middle School Division. Dallas Pelletin was first at 138 pounds and Jeremy Whittle topped the 182-pound bracket.
In the High School Division, Jake Jimenez from Chaparral High School was first at 138 pounds while Murrieta Valley graduate Nick Johnson took first in the 220-pound bracket.
MVHS students Jacob Thornburg, Alex Gomez, Guierrmo Romero, Kevin Kempis and Rickey Ruiz also did well.
Phil Gomez, the Nighthawk Wrestling Parents Club Vice President was pleased with the Tournament and the fundraising effort. “It was a well organized event and we were able I was pleased with the way everything went.”
Asked about all the effort that goes into executing a successful tournament, Coach Michael Atkins remarked: “It’s all about the kids and the experience that they get in the process. It takes time to put this tournament together but it's well worth the effort.
"It's difficult to motivate the wrestlers at this time of year with graduation and the end of school on their minds. I also coach practice for the high school team and the Golden Hawks on a daily basis and getting them mentally and physically ready was a challenge,” added Atkins.
Find out what's happening in Murrietawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Atkins runs the Murrieta Golden Hawks program. Wrestling classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Murrieta Valley HS Wrestling Room. Grades K-4 practices at 5:30pm-6:30pm and Grades 5-8 at 6:30-8pm.
“Coach Atkins did an amazing job organizing and getting things ready. I can honestly say that he loves the sport of wrestling and goes above and beyond the duties of a coach. It’s a lot of work, I know,” Loza said.
Find out what's happening in Murrietawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
For more information on getting your child involved with the Golden Hawks, call 951-440-5823.
The next AAU wrestling tournament will be held on Saturday, June 15 at Fontana High School.
For more info check out http://www.spwaau.com/tournaments/results/ .
