2016 Boys Wrestling Dream Team: Day Salas, Wrestler of the Year

Wrestler of the Year: Day Salas, St. John Bosco

The back-to-back CIF Southe Section divisional champion added to his list of accomplishments in 2016 with a first place finish in the 195-pound division at the CIF-SS Masters Meet en rout to touament MVP honors and later a sixth-place finish at the CIF State Championships.

The junior is proud of what he made happen this season, but after a shoulder injury forced him to default the fifth place match at state meet, he is already hungry for more in his senior year.

“I feel great with the CIF Touament and wiing Masters and getting the MVP. That’s a big deal, I don’t take that lightly at all,” he said. “I’m expecting to go win a state title next year, that’s my goal. I’m preparing to win a title.”

Salas also acknowledged how important the experience has been and says he will use it to become even better.

“It’s very valuable to me,” he said. “I’m in a position to know what to do now and I feel like it’s going to come together next year.”

Bosco head coach Omar Delgado credited Salas not only for his abilities on the mat, but also for his ability to incorporate a sense of humor, with which he entertains and lifts the spirits of his teammates.

“He’s one of the hardest working guys in the wrestling room,” the coach said. “He’s a kid who’s come to our wrestling club so I’ve known him since he was nine years old. He’s not only a good wrestler, but he brings joy to the wrestling mat everyday.”

Salas said the ability to balance that sense of humor with the work required to succeed at such a high level is something that has pretty much always come natural to him.

“I’ve had that my whole life,” he said. “I’ve always been the friendly kid. You’ve got to have a good time while you’re doing it and I realize I have to work hard to get what I want. It’s always been my personality to have fun and work hard.”

Coach of the Year: Ibee Atalla, Mayfair

The four-year head coach helped lead the Monsoons to one of the most successful seasons in program history. Mayfair won its CIF-SS title, sent a school-record three to the state meet, Justin Pichedwatana taking fourth at 160 pounds. It was highest finish by a Mayfair wrestler since 2001.

Atalla was quick to defer all of the credit to his wrestlers and coaching staff, never undercutting how proud he is of the team’s accomplishments.

“Unbelievable,” he said of the season. “It’s true when people say hard work pays off, it’s shown. There’s a reason why our season went the way it went.”

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The coach knew he had a solid squad all along, but it wasn’t until the late-going that he realized how special the group really was.

“It started seeing it right after league finals,” he said. “Our kids wanted to practice the very next day and that was the tuing point. Our kids didn’t want the season to end. We peaked at the right time. I’m always going to expect to win, get kids to college, get this program up, keep it up and keep the kids’ grades up and keep this team like a family.”

The team is already in early preparations for next season, but first Pichedwatana will compete at Nationals next month in Virginia.

“There are coaches who came in and out of our room,” Atalla said. “I want to say thank you to everybody who supported this program. These kids deserve the best.”

First Team:

106 Pounds- Christian Nunez, St. John Bosco

113- Ricky Bautista, Lakewood

120- Christian Robledo, Millikan

126- Nick Camacho, Paramount

132- Andrew Flores, Millikan

138- Christian O’Bryant, Millikan

145- Jake Alcobendas, Mayfair

152- Donovan Rosas, Lakewood

160- Justin Pichedwatana, Mayfair

170- Alex Michel, Lakewood

182- Cody Williams, Lakewood

195- Andrew Ramos, Mayfair

220- Isaiah Bean, Lakewood

285- David Aranda, St. John Bosco

Honorable Mention:

Jonathan Prada (Downey, 106), Matt Saldana (Millikan, 106), Jose Alvarez (Mayfair, 106), Carlo Reyes (La Mirada, 132), Favian Real (Millikan, 160), Jacob Bueno (St. John Bosco, 160), Randy Gonzalez Jr. (Lakewood, 285), Frank Carrillo (Millikan, 285).