SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone: BOYS WRESTLING Rankings, Jan. 16, 2024

Ramirez, Tolentino and Yoshitake headline an outstanding group of grapplers.

Ronnie Ramirez of Walnut at the Upland Blackwatch Tournament. (Photo: RT Tolentino)

1. Ronnie Ramirez (Walnut, 113 Pounds): The reigning CIF State champion at the 113-pound weight class has been a machine on the mat. He took first place at the preeminent state prep meet, the Doc Buchanan Tournament in Clovis, where he won a thrilling 3-2 win over Cal Grappler #2 ranked Edwin Sierra of Poway. You can be sure a rematch could be in the cards at the state meet in the finals. He has also won at La Costa Canyon, Reno, and Blackwatch tournaments like a hot knife through butter. This is the area’s best shot at winning a state title – again.  

2. Marcus Tolentino (Northview, 106): The improvement this season has made has been nothing short of impressive. Finished second last week at the 5-Counties Tournament (a huge So Cal prep for the state meet) and has won at Blackwatch and the Nogales SuperChamps tournament. You can make the argument that his second-best performance of the year was his fifth-place performance at the Zinkin Classic in Central Valley (another state prep tournament). Looking to make this first state tournament.  

3. Ryder Yoshitake (San Marino, 144): It is always nice to see San Marino back in the mix and this is one of two wrestlers that have a serious chance to hit the medal stand at the state meet. This senior, who took fifth at the 2023 USA Wrestling 16U Greco-Roman Championships at 145, has captured two tournament titles (Sonora Tournament of Champions, La Costa Canyon), and placed at the Duc Buchanan. He mixes physicality with speed, which makes him a tough matchup for any elite wrestler. Solid.  

4. Viviano Gutierrez (Northview, 144): One of the alpha males on the Vikings squad, this senior has no trouble dispatching consistent pain for six minutes. His best performance of the year was last week at 5-Counties as he made the 144-pound final before suffering a brutal 1-0 loss to Joseph Toscano of Buchanan (who is the top-ranked wrestler in the state at 144 according to The California Grappler). This is the one wrestler who has a huge upside and can make a serious run for a state title. 

5. Christian Garcia (Walnut, 126): This junior finally won his first tournament last weekend at the Willemstein Classic in Ontario (10-5 win over Azuen Gonzales of Eisenhower). He also took fourth at La Costa Canyon and 8th at Reno Tournament of Champions. He is a nice weight class of 126 and is projected to be seeded at the state tournament. Showing nice progress.  

6. Sunny Acuna (Northview, 190): Consistency is the name of the game with this talented wrestler. A resume that includes second-place performances at the Bakersfield Rumble for the Rig and Zinkin Classic and was very impressive last week two weeks ago at the Nogales Tournament in capturing the 190-pound title. Captured third place last week at the 5-Counties Tournament. One of the better finishers in the area.  

7. Mikel Uyemura (San Marino, 157): Another wrestler from the famed Titan wrestling room, this talented sophomore has turned in some nice efforts, finishing third at Cossarek and Tournament of Champions, and was third this past weekend at Temecula Valley’s Battle for the Belt tournament. He is the future of San Marino wrestler and is a bonafide Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestler. Do not be surprised to see this wrestler as a USA Wrestling National Champion soon. He is a 16U Pan-American Champion.  

8. Tristen Fernandez (Bonita, 150): A product of the famed California Grappler Wrestling, in any other year, Fernandez is a top-five wrestler. But this is not any other year. The junior has two tournament titles in his hip pocket (Los Osos and Tournament of Champions) and finished with a 2-2 record at the Duo Buchanan Tournament. He is wrestling with a purpose, and it is easy to see that the goal this year is to make the state tournament. And the way that he is wrestling right now, there is every reason to believe that he will make it.  

9. Aaron Contreras (Walnut, 132): Northview is not the only wrestling room in the east SGV that is peppered with top-notch wrestlers. This senior captured his second tournament of the year last week at Willemstein and has a tournament title at the Blackwatch Tournament. Throw in a second-place effort at the La Costa Canyon Tournament and you can see a nice resume developing right in front of you. Looking sharp!  

10. Gianluca Munoz (Bishop Amat, 144): You can also be sure that coach Tom Pierre will have one/two wrestlers that will make a nice postseason run and those inside the program are relying on this senior. Suffered a loss to Gutierrez in the final at Nogales and was also defeated by Yoshitake at the Tournament of Champions in December. Has a win at the Bishop Amat Rumble tournament and should be the favorite to win a Mission League title.  

    Other to Watch (In no preference): Caden Arellano (Damien, 215), Noah Butler (Northview, 120), Christian Giron (La Mirada, 113), Anthony Mason (La Mirada, 120), Jeremy Ortiz (San Dimas, 138), Chris Leon (Damien, 150), Lukas Long (Arroyo, 113), Christian Montoya (South Hills, 113), Edmon Altunyan (Montebello, 120), Max Topete (South Hills, 175), David Baxter (Sonora, 215), Camilio Ramirez (Walnut, 120).