Henry Wrestlers Place at Jimmy Hamada

Jimmy Hamada was a San Diguito High School Wrestler in 1975. He was a CIF and four-time League Champion. He also died at age of 25 of cancer, leaving behind a son. That son (Gabe Chandler) would go on to be a wrestler and then a coach at Patrick Henry High School for over a decade. Coach Sam Litvin who took over the program this year also wrestled and coached at San Diguito High School and therefore the first attendance of Patrick Henry at the tournament since COVID pandemic (which is now held at La Costa Canyon High School) is even more special.

Under La Costa Canyon Coach Buth, the tournament expanded from an eight team dual tournament to a two-day tournament that hosts over 50 teams from as far as Nevada and Arizona. This year the tournament included California’s top ranked Buchanan HS, Nevada’s Slam Academy as well as Granite Hills and Rancho Bernardo HS.

This is why it is all the more impressive that Patrick Henry had two placers at this tournament: Senior Elijah Vinoray (4th at 220lb) and his brother, a freshman Ethan Vinoray (6th at 113lb). The team competed with 8 wrestlers most of whom have not wrestled more than one year and ended up placing 30th out of 50 and 10th out of the 26 San Diego teams.

Over 500 wrestlers competed for two days from 9am until 9pm. Even one win at this tournament is considered an accomplishment and mere experience gives inspiration to compete at higher level. Patrick Henry wrestlers who were able to have at least one win included Francisco Saroldi-Gonzalez (Jr, 132lb), Barrett Talbot (Jr, 138lb), Koa Altmeyer (Jr, 160lb) and Abdullah Alshami (Fr 106lb).