Wrestling/ Feb 15 2021

San Marino’s Koa Ruiz Peaking in Time For Masters & State; Titans’ 126-Pound Sophomore Just Won His Second Straight CIF Title

Wrestling: Pictured: Keanu Tom & younger brother, Koa Ruiz, through the years. By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor San Marino’s Koa Ruiz was born to be a wrestler. The Titans’ sophomore began his career at age 5 and his big brother, Keanu Tom, was a star at Los Alamitos High School. You could say this sport […]

By Brian Baiotto


Wrestling/ Feb 02 2021

Former Northview Wrestling Star Caleb Flores Hired to Lead Vanguard Program After 39-Year Absence From Competition

By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor: If there was one guy from the San Gabriel Valley wrestling community that had the mettle to resume a college wrestling program that hadn’t been competing since the early 1980’s, you couldn’t do better than hiring Caleb Flores. The 2006 Northview High School grad and four-time state placer accepted the […]

By Brian Baiotto


Wrestling/ Feb 01 2021

Collin Hayes Places 7th at CIF State Championship Despite Torn Meniscus in Knee; Northview’s 132-Pounder Embodies Courage

Wrestling: By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor Collin Hayes may weigh just 132 pounds. But the Northview senior is one tough dude. He’s been dealing with a torn meniscus in his right knee, as he put it, ‘for quite a while,’ but it took a turn for the worse just as his senior wrestling season was […]

By Brian Baiotto


Wrestling/ Jan 30 2021

Northview Legend David Ochoa Inducted into National Wrestling Hall of Fame Saturday; Longtime Vikings’ Coach a Trailblazer

High School Wrestling: By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor Former President Ronald Reagan had a famous quote about the United States Marine Corps that seems fitting when thinking about legendary Northview High School wrestling coach David Ochoa. Reagan said, “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world, but the […]

By Brian Baiotto


Wrestling/ Jan 30 2021

Where Are They Now: South Hills State Champ, Thomas Williams, Still Pinning His Way Through Life at Age 30

Wrestling: Pictured L-R: Williams winning a state championship in 2007, and Williams with his wrestlers as coach at Benedictine College in Kansas. By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor In 2007, a San Gabriel Valley contingency saw five of its wrestlers medal at the CIF State Championships in Bakersfield. San Dimas’ Angel Garcia was third at 119 […]

By Brian Baiotto


Wrestling/ Jan 29 2021

Where Are They Now: Former WCHS Coaches, Donnie & Shirley Stephens, Continue Their Impact on Wrestling & Lives in Kentucky

Wrestling: By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor In the early 2000’s, this writer was working for a newspaper in the San Gabriel Valley as a freelancer, and for the most part, football, baseball, basketball and girls volleyball were the most sought after assignments by almost everyone. When my boss (at the time) asked me to cover […]

By Brian Baiotto


Wrestling/ Aug 19 2019

Northview Legend David Ochoa Inducted into National Wrestling Hall of Fame Saturday; Longtime Vikings’ Coach a Trailblazer

Former President Ronald Reagan had a famous quote about the United States Marine Corps that seems fitting when thinking about legendary Northview High School wrestling coach David Ochoa.

By Brian Baiotto


Wrestling/ Aug 19 2019

Former Northview Wrestling Star Caleb Flores Hired to Lead Vanguard Program After 39-Year Absence From Competition

By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor: If there was one guy from the San Gabriel Valley wrestling community that had the mettle to resume a college wrestling program that hadn’t been competing since the early 1980’s, you couldn’t do better than hiring Caleb Flores. The 2006 Northview High School grad and four-time state placer accepted the […]

By Brian Baiotto