Wrestlers are off to impressive start
By Hector Trujillo
After successful performances to open the season, the Scripps Ranch High School wrestling team is
ready to kick off its Western League competition on Dec. 18.
The mens side opened by competing in the Warriors of the West Duals held at Clairemont High School on Nov. 23, with eight of the 10 Falcons placing – and most coming out in first place.
The women competed at Sweetwater High School that same day in the Girls on Fire tournament, bringing home an individual gold.
“This is one of the best teams that we’ve had in a long time,” said coach Justin Viramontes.
Viramontes has been coaching alongside head coach John Kreitzer at Scripps Ranch for eight years. The Falcons began the season with 51 boys and nine girls on the roster after tryouts.
“It’s not our biggest girls team, but it’s by far our best,” Viramontes said. “The energy in the room is completely different.”
Scripps Ranch High is currently in the middle of competing in the three-day Hamada Classic at La Costa Canyon which started on Dec. 13 as league competition is just a few days away, starting at home against University City High.
The Falcons will then host the St. Augustine Saints on Jan. 8, followed by a trip to take on Patrick Henry High on Jan. 15. Scripps Ranch then visits Mira Mesa High on Jan. 22 before closing out regular season competition in front of the home fans versus Crawford High on Jan. 29.
The womens squad will participate in the Goddess of Olympia Invitational at Olympian High School on Dec. 21.
“In league matches we always have Mira Mesa circled,” Viramontes said. “We usually battle it out with University City, but Mira Mesa is the one that, when it comes to wresting in our league, always has a target on its back.”
The CIF State Championships are scheduled to take place between Feb. 27 and March 1, with the CIF Conference Championships, CIF Divisionals and CIF Masters taking place in the weeks prior.
Among the wrestlers to keep an eye out for are senior Ryan Stadtherr who, along with junior Elisha Hosseini, senior Jack Hamilton and junior Micah Kollmeyer, made Western League first team last year. Stadtherr was just one point away from qualifying for the state championships in 2023-24. Seniors Hope Long and Chloe Ng look to lead the womens squad.