Kilbane Gives Family Name Masters Touch

When you’re a Kilbane--as in the Kilbanes of Newbury Park--wrestling prowess isn’t such a thunderclap.

The Kilbane reign at Newbury Park High began in the late ‘70s with Bob, continued through the early ‘80s with Ken and Mike and has settled, oh, so regally, with Chris, a 149-pound wrestler who placed first in the Southern Section 4-A Division meet last Saturday.

The victory enabled Chris, a junior, to advance to the Southern Section Masters wrestling meet at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Fountain Valley High. The finals are scheduled for 4 p.m.

The top wrestlers from each of the four divisions compete in the Masters meet. Each weight class contains the top five wrestlers from each of the 4-A and 3-A, four from the 2-A and three from the 1-A for a total of 17.

Kilbane joins Rio Mesa’s Lupe Beltran (102-pound class) and Agoura’s Joe Gasbarri (130) as first-place representatives from the Valley area.

Chris is the first Kilbane to advance as far as the Masters meet, yet he credits much of his success to the influence of his brothers. There must be something about being the victim of surprise half-nelsons during your formative years that breeds wrestlers. Kilbane was a Masters alternate last year and has a 35-2-4 record this season.

“I’ve taken the beatings over the years,” Kilbane said. “But it’s been worth it. It’s made me a better wrestler.”

And more leery of big brothers with playful intentions.

“It usually works out this way,” Newbury Park Coach Marty Maciel said. “The youngest brother turns out being the better.

“He’s just one of the All-Americans. Super kid, great attitude, very mature. Just the kind of kid you’d expect to be in this position.”

Kevin Mabry, a junior in the 102-pound class, also will represent the Panthers in the Masters meet. Mabry finished third in the 4-A meet.

Beltran is competing in his second consecutive Masters meet and is one of three Rio Mesa wrestlers participating.

“Lupe looked exceptional at the 3-A meet,” Rio Mesa Coach Todd Stoke said. “All of his matches he pretty much dominated. He really came on.

“I think if he wrestles well he has a chance at placing in the state. He moved to a different level last week.”

The top six finishers in each class advance to the state championship meet March 4-5 at the University of Pacific in Stockton.

Beltran, who is something of an anomaly as a senior in the 102-pound division, is 38-11 and has 90 career wins.

Rio Mesa juniors Robby Cook, who qualified fourth at 129, and Tony Flores, third at 194, are competing in their first Masters. Cook set a school record with 43 victories this season against six losses. Flores is 27-11.

Gasbarri is a four-time Frontier League champion who qualified first in the 1-A meet. Gasbarri, a 136-pound senior, never lost a league match. He is 27-3 this season and is making his debut in the Masters meet.

Gasbarri cruised through the 1-A meet, including an 11-1 victory in the final.

“He didn’t just win matches, he pinned and he major-decisioned,” Agoura Coach Steve Smith said. “I think he’s good enough to place, but at the Masters tournament, everyone’s an excellent wrestler.”