Benicia High’s wrestling team had a finalist in 12 different weight classes and had nine Panthers win individual championships at the Solano County Athletic Conference Tournament held at American Canyon High School on Friday.

BENICIA HIGH’S wrestling team sent a dozen Panthers to SCAC championship matches and won nine individual titles overall. Benicia’s nine individual winners are (from left) Imad Adel, Riley Pitkin, Tyler Kay, Christian Ramos, Steven Rohrer, Mason Boutain, Brandon Ajari, Justin Abasolo and Joseph Hurst.

Benicia senior Justin Abasolo (147 pounds), juniors Christian Ramos (108), Joseph Hurst (140), Brandon Ajari (172) and Steven Rohrer (287), and sophomores Mason Boutain (122), Tyler Kay (154), Riley Pitkin (162) and Imad Adel (222) each went unbeaten en route to individual SCAC championships. Alejandro Lanza (115), Fernando Lanza (128) and Trent Smith (134) each finished in second place. Joseph Salt (184) medaled with a third-place finish.

“This is an awesome time right now for the kids,” said Benicia assistant wrestling coach Dominic Boutain. “The hard work they’ve put in is paying off.”

Benicia, which had a finalist in 12 of the 14 weight classes, easily won the team title with 287 points, far out-distancing second-place American Canyon (219 points). The nine individual titles set a new Benicia record, topping the seven championships from last year.

Ramos and Hurst each pinned their championship match opponent in the second period. Kay won on a tech-fall, 16-1, and Boutain won a 13-1 major decision in his championship match. Rohrer was a 7-0 winner over Vallejo’s Michael Franco, Ajari won 7-3 and Pitkin won 6-5. Abasolo and Adel each won 2-1 decisions.

Up next for Benicia’s wrestlers is the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II Tournament, which takes place Feb. 21-22 at Johnson High School in Sacramento. Benicia head coach Japheth Aquino has high expectations for his Panthers.

“Everyone’s gotten a lot better since the season started and we’re not peaking yet,” Aquino said. “The goal is to peak at Masters. It’s going to be tough, but if everybody wrestles to their potential, I think we can have 8-10 guys make it to the Masters meet.”

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