Newport Harbor wrestling owns Battle of the Bay, again
On the south end of Newport Harbor High’s gym is a relatively small and cluttered room.
Amid the bicycle and the countless kettlebell weights, there is just enough space for a desk and a computer.
Students enter. Some of them seek counsel. Others simply pass through on their way to practice.
This is the office of Dominic Bulone, the head wrestling coach of Newport Harbor.
As one enters the room from the outside, they find one of the program’s most prized possessions hanging on the wall to the right. It is framed, and it speaks to an extended reign of success in a fierce rivalry.
The prize is the Golden Singlet, given annually to the team that wins the Battle of the Bay — the rivalry pitting Newport Harbor against Corona del Mar.
The tradition of handing out the Golden Singlet began when Bulone took over the Newport Harbor program in the 1999-2000 school year.
It will remain on display in Bulone’s office after his Sailors defeated the Sea Kings, 57-10, at Corona del Mar on Wednesday evening. The win marks the sixth straight year that the Sailors (4-7) have won the rivalry match.
“It’s great,” Bulone said of winning the local rivalry. “It’s nice to win and take the Golden Singlet again. It’s got its place on the wall there. It looks good.”
Xander Moreno maintained his 100% takedown rate, defeating Sea Kings captain Peter Hollingshead, 22-3, at the 160-pound weight class.
Sailors captain Ernesto Martinez got back on track after a couple of rough weeks. He earned a pin in the 152-pound division.
“He had some close losses over the last couple of weeks, so it was nice to see him go out there and get a nice pin for himself and for the team.”
H.B. rebounds at Nike TOC
After dropping its first game in the Nike TOC, Huntington Beach’s girls’ basketball team ran the table in its final three games of the tournament.
The Oilers defeated Orangewood Academy, 47-25, in the consolation final on Thursday afternoon.
Frankie Wade-Sanchez had 17 points and Kaylyn Nakaji scored 10 points to push the Oilers (7-4) to victory.
The dynamic duo put up a monster performance in the consolation semifinal against Norco. Wade-Sanchez poured in 38 points with 10 rebounds and eight steals.
Nakaji complemented that effort with 22 points in Huntington Beach’s 68-58 win over the Cougars.
Marisa Tanga drew the assignment of Naomi Yim, who averages 16 points per game for Norco. The freshman point guard held Yim to eight points on Wednesday.
Up the coast, Edison split its first two games of the Santa Barbara TOC. South Torrance won the Chargers’ opener, 58-47. Andie Kristinat paced Edison with 16 points, and Ashley Niemand had 14.
The Chargers bounced back to defeat Santa Maria St. Joseph, 47-37, as Kristinat (15), Niemand (10), and Ryane Bradbury (11) all hit double figures in scoring.
