Lodi Flames deliver second San Joaquin Athletic Association wrestling title in three years

On Saturday, the Flames provided the perfect complement to their 5-0 dual season, pinning down a second SJAA tournament title in three seasons. Competing at home, eight wrestlers for Lodi hoisted individual titles, and Mettler was named the team’s Coach of the Year.

“It’s been a pleasure coaching these guys this year,” Mettler said. “It was a total team effort ... It’s very humbling to me to be elected coach of the year. but as I said before, its not about me, it’s about the kids. All my kids, I feel very blessed to have coached them.” 

Six of the team’s title-holders were seniors. Luke Jump went 2-0 in his 128-pound class to win a title, as did fellow fourth-years David White (147), Jacob Holley (154), Anthony Houghtaling (184), Daniel Frazier (197) and Tanner Purdy (287).

Juniors Colin Anderson (172) and Dustin Sefried (140) also won their lone two bouts to claim individual championships.

Julian Villanueva (106) and Nick Mettler (162) both went 2-1 to take second in their respective classes, while Nick Pette (fourth, 134), Parker Sterni (fifth, 122) and Hector Soto (fifth, 222) rounded out Lodi’s top-five finishers.

“Our normal guys — Frazier, White and Holley, they did what they always do. They’ve been my mainstays,” Keith Mettler said. “A guy that hasn’t gotten a whole lot of press, Luke Jump, has wrestled very well. He did very well. And Collin ... has been a real pleasant surprise.”

The Flames’ coach took time to praise his entire senior class, which has keyed the team’s recent rise to the top of the SJAA. And though Lodi will be without eight valuable wrestlers next year, he is nevertheless confident in his team’s ability.

“My underclassmen, they’re gettting better,” he said. “The seniors have been very good for the young people in the room. My hope is with their tutelage ... we can can build on what we’ve accomplished. I look for next year that the underclassmen will (continue from) where the seniors left off this year.”

In JV action on Saturday, the Flames finished third with 111 points, behind Tracy (115.50) and champion Lincoln (150).

Jacob Marcee (147), Chad Manguso (162), Marcus Draper (197), Jorge Ayala (207) and Korey Green (222) won titles, while Josh Smith (134) took second.

Logan Miller (222), Geddy Gehres (140) and Jose Padilla (134) took third.