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Horace Hinshaw
Article Launched: 05/23/2007 01:58:23 PM PDT
Piccolotti accepts wrestling scholarship to Okla. City University
Yesterday, Terra Nova senior Marina Piccolotti signed a letter of intent to Oklahoma City University. She will joined the college's women's wrestling team next fall.
The name Piccolotti is synonymous around the city of Pacifica. Since the 1940s, when Lou Piccolotti was arguably the best baseball player in the community, there have been numerous Piccolotti family members who have performed admirably on the athletic field.
Marina is no exception. The daughter of former California State wrestling champion Tom Piccolotti, she has followed in her dad's footsteps. Competing at the 144-pound weight class, she won this year's state championship.
Marina began wrestling in her sophomore year after transferring from Mercy-Burlingame. She's had an outstanding prep career. In her first year she took fourth in the state, finishing with a 20-12 record. In her junior year she won the Northern California title and placed third in both the state championship and the national championship, finishing the year 53-5. This year she defended her Northern California title, captured the state title and took second at the national championship, finishing the year 44-2.
She finished her high school career with a 117-19 record with 103 victories by pin. She also was the Terra Nova's 145-pound wrestler for the boy's varsity team. She had an impressive 14-2 record in the boys division.
Marina recently qualified for the women's world trials in Las Vegas by winning her weight class at the Northern Plains Regional tournament in Iowa. In Vegas she will compete against the top women wrestlers in the world.
Marina chose Oklahoma City University over several other colleges because of the school's music and vocal program.
Tom, her dad, said proudly, "she's an accomplished vocalist, and by accepting the scholarship she will be able to learn and refine her music talents while wrestling at the university. Marina also has a lot of respect for Coach Archie Randall, the college's women's wrestling coach."
Tom Piccolotti, a member of the Pacifica Sports Hall of Fame, gives a lot of credit for Marina's development as a wrestler to Robert Redman. Now the women's wrestling coach at San Jose State, he was her first coach at Terra Nova and has coached her on the national level for the past three years.
After a seven year absence, the Pacifica Sports Club is reinstating its "breakfast of Champions" awards breakfast.
High School athletes honored
For 15 years from 1984 to 1999 the Pacifica Sports Club honored over 200 local athletes for their achievements in the field of sports. This year the Board of Directors for the Pacifica Sports Club decided to bring back the awards program. The objective of the award is to recognize outstanding athletes at the various area high schools who contribute to the success of the school's varsity sports teams.
The PSC asked principals and athletic directors at high schools to nominate the student-athletes. This approach broadens the variety of athletes honored to include local students from out-of-town high schools. The nominated student must live in Pacifica and be a member of the school's varsity team for the 2006-2007 school year. The schools were asked to submit the name of one male athlete and one female athlete.
The following athletes were selected as the PCS's athletes of the year and will collect their certificate of accomplishment at a photography session tomorrow night at 5 p.m. at the Pacifica Tribune, located in the Pacific Manor Shopping Center:
Terra Nova: Jack Forbes, three sport athlete. All-PAL and Terra Nova football team player of year and voted to the All-County team; MVP for Tiger basketball team and also a member of the track and field team. Marina Piccolotti, All-PAL and outstanding wrestler; Northern California and California State champion; Oregon and Washington State champion and second in nation in weight class; qualified to compete in World team trials.
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El Sausal wrestlers prevail
Girl contributed to middle school's winning season
By VÍCTOR ALMAZÁN 2/23/07
For The Salinas Californian
It seems like a difficult sport for a girl, but Vania Espinoza helped El Sausal Middle School's wrestling team win almost every tournament of the season this year.
"When the team won, it was exciting," Vania said earlier this month. "It is like nobody can reach us. We are the best."
Vania, 14, is the only girl on a team with 18 boys, which emerged as a champion in the sport in the past season.
"She is really good," coach Sandro López said. But while the coach recognizes the energy Vania puts into the sport, he emphasizes the work of the whole team.
López, athletic director at El Sausal, is part of a five-coach group that has been training the team for three years. He said the key of the team's success is in the wrestlers' dedication and the trainers' commitment.
"They didn't miss a training day," López said.
The effort transformed into trophies. The team won half a dozen tournaments, some of them while facing some of the most powerful teams in the area, such as Gavilan View and Palma.
"We just lost one," López said.
The dedication of the team was not lost on students or teachers, who noticed their six-day-a-week schedule during the season.
The team's success is due to the "dedication of the coach, Mr. Sandro López, and others who gave up their nights and weekends for the love of the sport and helping build up a great team," wrote Ann Ramirez, a teacher at La Paz Middle School in Salinas. "I think that this should be noted that sportsmanship, dedication, and passion for such a tough sport is alive and well in east Salinas."
Vania became involved in the sport because of her brother, she said, and she enjoys it because it gives her something to do after school. She doesn't think it's all that hard.
"I think it's fun," she said. "My teammates, they don't try to slam you or anything. It's not easy, but my teammates help me through it."
Many of the wrestlers are poised to matriculate as they complete their studies at El Sausal, but say they're planning to continue training when they go onto Alisal High School.
Arturo Morado, 14, said he's one of them. "It's really fun," Arturo said of wrestling.
Vania, for her part, said she's not sure she will continue with the sport.
"I would love to keep wrestling, but my mom, she's not OK with it," she said. "I could also be playing basketball.