WRESTLING: THIS TIGER NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.Byline: IVAN OROZCO Staff Writer Benito Mendez defies his image. The San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. High wrestler comes across as harmless and soft-spoken, and at 5-foot-3 and 98 pounds, he's hardly imposing. But the Tigers' sophomore is anything but soft on the mats. Mendez has opened eyes by beating opponents in the 103-pound category. His fearless attitude and competitive nature have earned his teammates' and coaches' respect. ``He has no fear,'' said Mike Solis, the Tigers' two-time defending City Section 152-pound champion. ``He's very hard working. When he first showed up I thought `Not another little scrub.''' Mendez, a first-year varsity wrestler, proved different. He is 27-5 competing in the 103-pound category against opponents that are about eight to 10 pounds heavier. But Mendez doesn't back down. A black right eye and a swollen left cheek -- courtesy of his past two opponents -- are proof of his perseverance Perseverance See also Determination. Ainsworth redid dictionary manuscript burnt in fire. [Br. Hist.: Brewer Handbook, 752] Call of the Wild, The dogs trail steadfastly through Alaska’s tundra. [Am. Lit. . ``(Mendez) got his tail kicked all year long last year,'' Tigers coach Fernando Gonzalez said. ``But he never gave up. ``He's in a zone right now. He's mentally tough and technically tough. He'll crawl To search the Internet for hosts, Web pages or blogs. See crawler. on you and is hard to get off. He's like a leech leech, predacious or parasitic annelid worm of the class Hirudinea, characterized by a cylindrical or slightly flattened body with suckers at either end for attaching to prey. .'' Mendez, who finished fourth in the same weight category in junior varsity junior varsity n. Abbr. JV A high-school or college team that competes in interschool sports on the level below varsity. Noun 1. , went undefeated to finish first at the West Coast Classic at Rosemead High, second at the Lancaster tournament and fourth at West Covina West Covina, city (1990 pop. 96,086), Los Angeles co., S Calif., in the San Gabriel valley; settled 1905, inc. 1923. Before World War II, West Covina was a small rural community where walnuts, wheat, and livestock were raised. last weekend. He beat a solid wrestler in Crespi of Encino's Lim Gallagher at West Covina, a 32-team tournament. The 15-year-old Mendez will take his fearless attitude into today's Sam DeJohn Tournament at San Fernando High. ``He's scrappy scrap·py 1 adj. scrap·pi·er, scrap·pi·est Composed of scraps; fragmentary: scrappy evidence. scrap and tough,'' Crespi coach Mike Odman. ``He'll beat the average kid. He'll medal at Sam DeJohn. He's good with his cradle and he can turn heavier guys. I'd be confident if I had him at 103 (pounds).'' Mendez comes into Sam DeJohn hoping to face St. John Bosco "Don Bosco" redirects here. For other uses, see Bosco (disambiguation). Saint Don Bosco, born Giovanni Melchiorre Bosco, and known in English as John Bosco of Bellflower's Jeremy Gendreau, who pinned him at the Tournament of Champions at Cerritos College Cerritos College is a public comprehensive community college founded in 1955 located in Norwalk, California. It was named after Rancho Los Cerritos, a ranch that served prominently in the region in the 19th century. last month. ``Not too many guys can beat me easily, this guy did and I didn't like it,'' Mendez said. Mendez was used to losing. He spent most of his freshmen season getting beat by the opposition and losing in practice to his older brother Tony, a senior who placed third in the CIF (1) (Common Intermediate Format) A standard video format used in videoconferencing. CIF formats are defined by their resolution, and standards both above and below the original resolution have been established. The original CIF is also known as Full CIF (FCIF). meet at 112 pounds last year. ``When we used to fight as little kids, (Tony) kicked my (butt) all the time,'' Mendez said. ``I used to go at it with him and I just couldn't beat him. Now it's a little different because were both stronger. ``Wrestling my brother, like coach said, `You have to get your (butt) whooped to kick some (butt).''' Mendez is quick to credit his older brother for his determination and most of his wrestling knowledge. The brothers have contributed to the Tigers' 3-0 dual-meet record. San Fernando, who finished undefeated in dual meets (21-0) and produced seven individual section finalists last year, is the favored to win its 12th City Section dual meet title. But Gonzalez said the focus is on individuals as well. He has scheduled more weekend tournaments to prepare his wrestlers See
Gonzalez wasn't convinced about the younger Mendez's prospects the day he showed up for tryouts with his older brother. ``He looked like a fifth-grader,'' Gonzalez said. ``My girls are 9 years old and they are as big as him. He weighed about 87 pounds. I didn't want him to get hurt.'' Mendez hit the weight room and began to wrestle at the San Fernando Boys and Girls boys and girls mercurialisannua. Club during the high school offseason. ``I've always liked that little guy,'' teammate Matt Castillo said. ``He never backs down from drills and we mix it up, big guys versus small guys. We obviously don't wrestle the little guys the way we would our own weight but you can't go easy on (Mendez) because he'll get you if you slack too much. His size can trick you into thinking he's soft.'' ivan.orozco@dailynews.com (818) 713-3607 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: San Fernando High wrestler Benito Mendez is 27-5 competing in the 103-pound division. Mendez weighs 98 pounds. Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer |
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