Ralphy Tovar – Poway HS

Ralphy Tovar – Poway HS, Sophomore
By Pablo DiMaria
High School Correspondent

How did you get into wrestling?
Both my dad and older brother wrestled in high school, so you can say I was born into this sport.

What makes wrestling different from other high school sports?
It’s a sport that you have to have dedication to achieve success. A sport that doesn’t discriminate how tall, short, or how much you weight, all kinds of body types can fit into our sport. Anyone that gives 100% all the time and have heart can do it.

What was going through your mind when you won The Battle for the Belt tournament?
Oh man, it was a big deal, I felt like I was on top of the world, and I have what it takes to be one of the best around in my weight class come March.

What is it like to be coach by Wayne Branstetter?
He is a Motivator. He’s an inspiration, and honestly, he teaches us more about life than wrestling. He is a philosopher, not a coach.

What’s the atmosphere like in the Poway wrestling room?
It’s always fun, it’s a big team with lots of guys and it’s laid back, but we get to work when we need to.

Was the most memorable moment in your High School Career?
There’s so many, every time I hear my coach say I’m a stud is the biggest positive motivation.

How would you like this season to end?
Definitely shooting for a top three finished at state, it’s a tough goal, but that’s how you succeed.

Toughest opponent in your weight class this year?
Aaron Pico for sure, that kid is a wrestling monster, very friendly too, definitely a future Olympian and collegiate champion.

What are your future goals?
Do what makes me happy, wrestle and live good. College is a big thing to look forward too I definitely want to see new places when I attend college.

Favorite College wrestler and team?
I really like Boise state, and Jason chamberlain. I think he is an awesome wrestler. I really enjoy watching him the way he always keeps he’s composure when he is under pressure.

Is this a hint for your feature wrestling home? I have my options opponent. I’m barley a sophomore in high school. But I wouldn’t mind wrestling for a powerhouse team like Boise State in the future.

Ralphy Tovar – 2013 Battle for the Belt Champion

What do you like to eat after a weigh-in and before you wrestle?
I’m pretty terrible about this. My coach (Wayne Branstetter) always looks at me funny when I eat waffles. I put strawberry jelly on my waffles and then I cover them with Maple syrup. I always say I’m only going to eat half, but I end up eating the whole waffle.

Who’s your favorite band?
Definitely the singer Kendrick Lamar. He’s a singer from Compton, California. He’s music is really inspirational.

Where’s your favorite place to hang out?
Always at my team mates house.

What’s your favorite food?
There’s too many, you can’t ask that while I’m cutting weight.

Who’s a good wrestling friend of yours in CA?
I’ve met a lot of really cool people around the state, got a few popular close friends like Corey Griego from Sultana High, Christian Pagdilao from Santiago/Corona and Sohrab movahedi from Granada Hills Charter School. All of them I consider them good wrestling friends.