Jaime Ruelas has captured another CIF title.

After starring on the gridiron, Ruelas, a senior at Bishop Union High

School, is now showcasing his exceptional skills on the wrestling mat.

 

 Ruelas won four matches to win the 170-pound Coastal Division title in

 

the CIF-Southern Section Ford Championships, Presented by Farmers.

 Ruelas, his coaches, Shaun Joseph and Mark Hodges, mom Kelli and his

brothers made the long trek to Pacifca High in Oxnard for the two-day

event last Friday, and Ruelas rewarded his supportive crew with a stellar

championship performance.

 One opposing coach called the Coastal Division one of the toughest

tournaments in California. The top five wrestlers in each weight class

earned a trip to the prestigious CIF-SS Masters Meet, this Friday and

Saturday at Temecula Valley High School.

Ruelas improved to 31-7 on the season and is expected to be the No. 2 seed

in the 170-pound weight class at this week’s Masters tournament.

Ruelas was a standout player on Bishop’s 2010 CIF-SS Northeast Division

championship team, and in 2011 the two-way star was named to the

all-CIF-SS Northeast first-team defense.

The tough-nosed Ruelas was constantly praised by Bronco football coach

Bill Egan as a leader and hard worker, and wrestling coach Hodges echoed

those sentiments.

“He’s just one of those kids that when you tell him something or show him

how to do it, he does it,” Hodges said. “He’s just a great young man.”

Ruelas will be gunning for a berth in the state tournament, but his

athletic legacy at Bishop Union High School will be tough to duplicate:

two-time CIF champion.

The following is a press release from Bishop High assistant wrestling

coaching Mark Hodges:

*JAIME RUELAS CROWNED CIF CHAMPION !!!*

Bishop Bronco Wrestling

Last Friday and Saturday, *senior Jaime Ruelas* competed in the CIF

divisional tournament at Pacifica High School in Oxnard. To continue on to

the Southern Section Masters Tournament, a wrestler must place in the top 5

in his weight class; if he places any lower than 5th, his season is over.

Since the elimination of divisions by school size in CIF wrestling in 2001,

Colten Scott from Bishop is the only wrestler from all the wrestlers in the

High Desert League to have made it to the Masters Tournament – until now.

Prior to 2001, Randy Rodgers in 1986 and Ryan Bigham in 1998 and 1999

placed in the small school division.

With several state-caliber wrestlers in his weight class, both the coaches

and Jaime knew that this would be a tough tournament. In his weight class,

there were state-ranked wrestlers – including 5 of the CIF Southern Section

top ranked wrestlers.

Jaime got a bye in the first round and in the second round he totally

dominated his opponent from Western High School with a final score of 13-0.

In the quarter finals, Jaime was also able to score a major decision over a

wrestler from Servite High School who was recognized as an honorable

mention at the state level. The final score was 19-9.

In the semifinals, Jaime faced a returning masters placer and state

qualifier from Temecula Valley. Jaime was aggressive thoughout the match,

winning a major decision with a score of 12-2. This guaranteed his entry

into the Masters meet, but Jaime wanted a first place finish.

Jaime wrestled in the finals against a state-ranked wrestler from Victor

Valley who had defeated him earlier in the season. Jaime was in control

throughout the match, winning by a score of 5-3. This first place finish is

a first not only for Bishop, but the entire High Desert league –a CIF

Champion!

Coach Joseph said, “Jaime is staying focused, wrestling each match with an

intensity that is a joy to watch. You can see his confidence grow with each

victory.”

Jaime will wrestle next at the Southern Section Championship Meet, known as

the ‘Masters Meet’, in Temecula Valley this coming Friday and Saturday. The

Southern Section of CIF has 581 schools and if Jaime is one of the top 9

wrestlers in his weight class, he will qualify for the state tournament.