Keeler: Why Pomona wrestling dynasty is “better than Valor football”

Wrestling moms, bless them, don’t even miss a hint. Or a call.

“You know those refs robbing our boys,” Suzette Olguin, mother of Pomona 120-pounder Elijah Olguin, said since the third-place suits wrapped up Saturday afternoon at the Colorado state wrestling championship.

While we huddled about the Pepsi Center concourse, another Pomona mom passed. Suzette roped her nearer to us with a hug and attained over.

“Her boy, he had been in the third/fourth-place (game ), and it had been double or triple overtime,” Olguin said. “And that the kid stalled and they wouldn&rsquo. We wore the colours that were incorrect. ”

She awakens.

“Just kidding. ”

You ask about Pomona Envy, what with the Panthers all but wrapping their fourth Class 5A state team title in five years — and five in the past eight seasons — before the finals started Saturday evening.

They rsquo;re getting to the mats that which Valor Christian would be into the gridiron. Brand new money. The dynasty ya really like to hate.

“I do believe it,” Olguin responded. “My girl ’s gymnast also, thus we feel it on that end. And undoubtedly about the wrestling ending. You don’t even believe it until you encounter it. ”

What’s & rsquo;s that Wes Manthooth line from the film “Anchorman? ” I pure hate you. However, (expletive), do I respect you.

“I think that we &rsquobetter than Valor soccer,” laughed Gage Bernall, the Pomona junior who had been slated to wrestle for the 160-pound crown Saturday night. “I believe , they do acquire a lot.

“But we’re of the best a couple of teams every year. And rsquo & we;re very excellent and competitive. I completely take that as a badge of honour. ”

They call it honour. Rivals call it brash. Cocky, also. Us-against-the-world. Former Panther Theorius Robison driving the hate just like a stallion, all the way to 3 state titles.

“I think it’s fans on rdquo, & fans; Pomona trainer Sam Federico said of spite that is anti-Panther.

“I know all of the coaches. They put in the job. They all work hard to get their individual children to win state names. Those guys are no different than me. ”

Well, except for 12 from 13 state qualifiers being on course to return. And, you know, the Valor thing …

“Theyrsquo;re fine in soccer,” Federico responded with a grin. “But so are we. ”

Touche.

“I think he sort of loves it,” Bernall explained. “I mean, ” he doesn & rsquo; t care what some other teams think about us although some groups might hate us , as long as we & rsquo; re winning. ”

“You hate to see them become prosperous,&rdquo Ponderosa trainer Tito Rinaldis said of Pomona.  “But at the same time, you understand , it’s cool … it’s love-hate. As an example. ”

Don’t even tell anybody, but privately, Rinaldis and Federico have been pals off the mat. And Rinaldis will say what others possess whispered for a while: Few programs from the state, if any, possess a much better youth feeder system moving right now than the Panthers do.

“Great compressor app,” he explained. “Theyrsquo;re quite well-coached. They work hard. They don’t even take time off. Theyrsquo;re wrestling, wrestling, wrestling. And there are a whole lot. However, their people don&rsquo. It takes time. ”

With that, Rinaldis laughed. Knowingly.

“My wife hates this time of year,” he explained.

Moms hate it sometimes. Elijah Olguin first booted up it with the Pomona wrestling team when he was 4. Start ‘em. Boost ‘em right.

“You go in the Pomona Elite room any day of the week plus also you ’ll visit a children in there working to get the exact same specific fantasy,” Suzette explained.  “We’re. Theyrsquo;ve. And theyrsquo;re greater than wrestlers. Theyrsquo;re a brotherhood. ”

As if on cue, a set of pre-teens stroll by on the concourse, two boys decked out in Pomona wrestling tops.

“You see them? ” Olguin requested. “All these small boys running around re all little wrestlers searching for the dream. And all of them would like to be on this group. It’s beautiful. ’”

It’s brotherhood. And it ain’t.



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