Downey’s Jonathan Prata wins state wrestling championship

Jonathan Prata, a junior at Downey High, won the school’s first state wrestling title. He now advances to the national championship in Pennsylvania, where he will compete in the 106-lb. division. Photo courtesy Downey High

DOWNEY – The Downey High School wrestling team sent four wrestlers to the state meet at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield last weekend. Jonathan Prata won the state wrestling title at 106 pounds. 

Prata’s championship marks the first state wrestling title in Downey High School history. 
This was also the first time in school history that Downey sent four wrestlers to the state meet in the same year. The Vikings finished the state meet in 24th place with Prata’s five wins and Roland Dominguez’s two wins, respectively.

Prata went 5-0 in Bakersfield to win the title. He defeated Eric Sanchez of Silver Creek by pin at the 2:47 mark of the second period in his first match, defeated Lorenzo Arreola of Dinuba 8-0 in his second match, defeated Izzy Tubera of Pitman 3-1 in his third match, defeated Antonio Lorenzo of Del Oro 4-2 in his fourth match and defeated Eddie Flores of Northview 8-1 in the championship final. Interestingly, Prata was defeated by Flores the previous week 7-2 in the championship match at the Master’s Meet.

Dilan Ajtun (113) finished 0-2, Roland Dominguez (120) finished 2-2 and Armando Padilla (138) finished 0-2. Ajtun was defeated by Matthew Olguin of Buchanan 10-1 in his first match and was defeated by Jake Lilienstein of De La Salle by pin at the 4:13 mark of the third period. 
Dominguez was defeated by Greg Viloria of West 10-0 in his first match, defeated Benjamin Martinez of Eastlake 5-3 in his second match, defeated Jake Mora of Pleasant Valley by pin at the 1:52 mark of the first period in his third match and was defeated by Jacob Seto of Elk Grove by pin at the 3:00 mark of the second period. 

Padilla was defeated by Johnny Fox of Gilroy 5-2 in his first match and was defeated by Chase Patterson of Del Oro 5-2 in his second match.

Downey High School, the administration and faculty, alumni and Coach Soto are extremely proud of the entire wrestling program and what they have accomplished this year. Prata, Ajtun and Dominguez are all juniors and will be back for another title run. Padilla was the only senior in this group of state qualifiers. 

Things look bright for the Downey High School wrestling program.     

■ The Warren High School wrestling team sent one wrestler to the state meet at the Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield last weekend. 

Alexis Galvan (220) finished fifth at C.I.F. Individuals three weeks ago, finished seventh at the Master’s Meet in Ontario two weeks ago to qualify for the state meet and wrestled this past weekend in Bakersfield. Galvan did not place at the state meet. 

As a team, with only one wrestler competing, Warren finished in a tie for 186th. 

Galvan finished the state meet with a record of 0-2. He was defeated by John Halajian of Clovis North 20-9 in his first match and was defeated by Luis Garcia of Norte Vista 12-2 in his second match. Interestingly, Galvan placed seventh at the Master’s Meet the previous week with a default win over the same Luis Garcia of Norte Vista.

Warren High School, the administration and faculty, the alumni and Coach Brogden are extremely proud of what Alexis accomplished this year. Galvan is a senior and has wrestled his last match as a Bear. 

The Bears had seven wrestlers place at C.I.F. Individuals and three of those placers qualified for the Master’s Meet. Ismael Bautista (170) placed fourth and Kenneth Gonzalez (182) placed third, respectively. Of those three wrestlers who qualified for the Master’s Meet, Galvan was the only wrestler who qualified for the state meet.

■ The Warren High School baseball team currently has an overall record of 3-0 and will begin S.G.V.L. play when they travel to Paramount on 4/4 and when they host Paramount on 4/7. 
The Bears defeated Bell at Bell 4-0 on 2/27 and swept a doubleheader from Hoover last Saturday 10-0 in the first game and 19-1 in the second game. 

Warren will be competing in the Quartz Hill Tournament this weekend and next week. The Bears played Canyon yesterday (score unavailable at press time), will play Eastside tomorrow, will play Quartz Hill on Tuesday and will play Lancaster on Wednesday. 

The Bears are off to a good start this preseason and look to continue that. Warren finished last season with an overall record of 16-14 and a S.G.V.L. record of 5-5.

■ The Warren High School softball team currently has an overall record of 3-2 and will begin S.G.V.L. play when they travel to Paramount on April 4. 

The Bears defeated Harvard-Westlake 13-1 and were defeated by Mira Costa 4-3 on 2/25 in the Redondo Tournament.

Warren defeated Bishop Montgomery 2-0 and St. Joseph’s 6-4 on Saturday in the Redondo Tournament. The Bears were defeated by Mayfair 5-0 at Warren on Tuesday and will travel to La Palma Kennedy on 3/23 for a doubleheader against the Fighting Irish. 

The Bears finished last season with an overall record of 21-9 and a S.G.V.L. record of 8-2.

■ The Downey High School baseball team currently has an overall record of 2-3 and will begin S.G.V.L. play when they host Dominguez on 4/4 and when they travel to Dominguez on 4/7. 

The Vikings were defeated by La Mirada at La Mirada 6-0 on 2/25 and were defeated by Edison at U.S.C. 4-1 on 2/27 in the Downey Tournament. Downey was defeated by Pacifica 8-4 on 3/2, defeated Irvine 2-0 on 3/4 and defeated Woodrow Wilson 4-1 on 3/7 in the Loara Tournament. 
Downey continued in the Loara Tournament yesterday against Millikan (score unavailable at press time) and will continue tomorrow against an opponent yet to be determined.

The Vikings finished last season with an overall record of 13-17 and a S.G.V.L. record of 6-4. Coach Gonzalez, his staff and players are all looking forward to the start of San Gabriel Valley League play.

■ The Downey High School softball team currently has an overall record of 3-3 and will begin S.G.V.L. play when they host Dominguez on 4/4.

Downey was defeated by Santa Fe 4-0 and defeated Cypress 12-5 on 2/25 in the Cypress Tournament. The Vikings split a double header with Lakewood at Mayfair Park when they were defeated 8-1 in the first game and defeated Lakewood in the second game 3-2 on 3/2.

Downey defeated Peninsula 5-0 and were defeated by Carson 8-6 on 3/4 in the Cypress Tournament. The Lady Vikings hosted Whittier yesterday at Downey (score unavailable at press time).

Downey finished last season with an overall record of 16-15 and a S.G.V.L. record of 5-5. Coach Karzen, his staff and players are all looking forward to the start of San Gabriel Valley League play.