Why Pomona wrestling dynasty is “better than Valor football”

Wrestling mothers, bless them, really do not overlook a trick. Or a simply call.

“You know those people refs, generally robbing our boys,” Suzette Olguin, mother of Pomona one hundred twenty-pounder Elijah,  said as the third-position matches wrapped up Saturday afternoon at the CHSAA Point out Wrestling tournament.

As we huddled on the Pepsi Center concourse, another Pomona mother passed. Suzette arrived at about and roped her nearer to us with a sympathetic hug.

“Her boy, he was in the third/fourth-position (match), and it was double or triple additional time,” Olguin described. “And the child stalled and they would not simply call stalling to save our life. We wore the wrong colours.”

She grinned.

“Just kidding.”

You ask about Pomona Envy, what with the Panthers all but mathematically wrapping up their fourth Class 5A state crew title in 5 yrs — and 5 in the earlier 8 seasons — ahead of the finals started off Saturday evening.

That they are becoming to the mats what Valor Christian is to the gridiron. New money. The dynasty ya adore to despise.

“I do think it,” Olguin replied. “My daughter’s a gymnast as effectively, so we really feel it on that conclude. And surely on the wrestling conclude. You really do not think it until finally you expertise it.”

What is that Wes Manthooth line from the film “Anchorman?” I pure straight despise you. But (expletive), do I respect you.

“I imagine we’re greater than Valor football,” laughed Gage Bernall, the Pomona junior who was slated to wrestle for the 160-pound crown Saturday night time. “I mean, they do gain a large amount.

“But we’re continuously a single of the top rated a single or two groups each and every yr. And we’re frequently aggressive and really superior. I totally acquire that as a badge of honor.”

They simply call it honor. Rivals simply call it brash. Cocky, even. Us-versus-the-entire world. Former Panther Theorius Robison using the despise like a stallion, all the way to a few state titles.

“I imagine it is far more lovers on lovers,” Pomona coach Sam Federico stated of anti-Panther spite.

“I know all the coaches. They place in the function. They all function tough to get their person youngsters to gain state titles. People guys are no distinctive than me.”

Well, other than for twelve out of 13 state qualifiers staying on keep track of to return future yr. And, you know, the Valor factor …

“They’re superior in football,” Federico replied with a grin. “But so are we.”

Touche.

“I imagine he form of enjoys it,” Bernall stated. “I mean, even however some groups could possibly despise us, as extensive as we’re successful, he does not treatment what some other groups imagine about us.”

“You despise to see them be profitable,” longtime Ponderosa coach Tito Rinaldis stated of Pomona. “But at the very same time, you know, it is neat … it is a adore-despise. For absolutely sure.”

Don’t notify any individual, but privately, Rinaldis and Federico are buddies off the mat. And Rinaldis will say to your experience what some others have whispered for a though: Couple applications in the state, if any, have a greater youth feeder procedure going proper now than the Panthers do.

“Terrific feeder method,” he stated. “They’re really effectively-coached. They function tough. They really do not acquire time off. They’re wrestling, wrestling, wrestling. And there are a large amount of applications that could be superior. But their folks just really do not want to place in the time that it will take. It will take time.”

With that, Rinaldis laughed. Knowingly.

“My wife hates this time of yr,” he stated.

Moms despise it far too, in some cases. Elijah Olguin very first laced it up with the Pomona wrestling club when he was 4. Start off ‘em youthful. Increase ‘em proper.

“You go into the Pomona Elite area any day of the 7 days and you will see a superior fifty-60 youngsters in there operating for the very same specific dream,” Suzette stated. “We’re just close. They’ve regarded every single other due to the fact they were very little. And they are far more than wrestlers. They’re a brotherhood.”

As if on cue, a pair of pre-teenagers stroll by on the concourse, two boys decked out in black Pomona wrestling shirts.

“You see them?” Olguin requested. “All these very little boys running around, they are all very little wrestlers looking for the very same dream. And they all want to be on this crew. It’s gorgeous.’

It’s a brotherhood. And it ain’t going everywhere.