Shouts pour into the halls of Mission High as two boys, heads interlocked like those of buffalo with their horns entangled, go at it.
“Nice, nice,” cry onlookers.
“Vamos, Chris. Tú puedes!” they encourage the boy who’s been pinned to the ground — “Let’s go, Chris. You can do it!”
Here and now, in a gym where the sun radiates through huge glass windows, it’s OK to scuffle. It’s a high school wrestling match, after all.
This match follows the pattern of a timeless rivalry: the Mission High Bears versus the John O’Connell Boilermakers, both high schools housed on Mission turf.
Until a couple of years ago, the winner of this particular match took home a trophy, and the competition took into account not only athletic skill, but also student grade point average.
When it’s big, says John O’Connell wrestling coach J.R. Anderson, this match is like the 49ers versus the Raiders.
But nothing is big about today’s contest, except for a Mission banner that drapes the yellow-trimmed walls. Only six players from John O’Connell’s wrestling squad, which has a 1-2 record, are present — not enough to win. Some players are out sick, while others have quit. Mission High (with a 3-1 record) has brought 14.
“We’re in a big hole,” says Anderson, laughing gently.
Still, the match goes on.
Trophies may not be up for grabs, but reputation is. Both teams have reason to perform well.
Oscar Pineda, a senior at John O’Connell, is ranked 18th in California in the 119 weight division, says Coach Anderson.
Soon after his match, Pineda plucks the strap of his blue spandex jersey off his sweaty skin and explains, in 17-year-old fashion, that he likes wrestling not only because it’s “cool” but because he finds it the most physically demanding sport out there.
He’s short — maybe 5’3 — but powerful. Minutes earlier, pinned face down on the black mat, he swiftly wrapped his foot around his opponent’s leg, twisted it, and assumed the top position. It’s clear why he’s ranked first in several tournaments and remains undefeated so far this season.
Defeat is something that Mission High Coach Roger Brigham knows well. In 2001, titanium rod took the place of his hips. In the past year, the man with graying hair and small-framed glasses has undergone two different surgeries, and has since been on dialysis.
As the head varsity coach for only two years, he promised he’d come back only if others took on more of a role in helping him coach.
From the school’s athletic director to the teens on his team, “Everybody has stepped up. This is the best team Mission High’s ever seen.”
As he speaks, Norberto Hernández, a 17-year-old Mexican native on the yearbook staff, is documenting that team.
In between snaps, Hernández hands over a pamphlet featuring one of his photographs. A black-and-white picture of Bernal Hill was auctioned off for First Exposures, a photography mentoring program for underserved youth in the city.
Norberto’s dream is to become a professional photographer, and he’s already planning to take classes at City College once he graduates in May.
Though he thinks the match is “boring,” he’s there, doing his job.
After just four rounds, Mission High claims victory, but match results are evenly split: two wins for Mission, two for John O’Connell.
As the mats are rolled up, both teams begin to trickle out on their separate ways — back to schools separated by just six blocks.