Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = West Valley

 Located in Saratoga, about twenty minutes southwest of San Jose, the Vikings of West Valley College at one time had a rather competitive program.  They finished in the top ten at the CCCAA tournament on fourteen occasions including highs of fourth in 1990 & third in 1993.  They program was discontinued after the 2009-2010 season. 

Brune Biococca
150 lbs 

Biococca won a CCCAA title in 1971. 

Andy Soares
160 lbs 

During his first year of high school Andy Soares played football & basketball while also participating in Track.  He soon turned in the hoops for the mat & won a Region title.  Competing for the Vikings, Soares made the CCCAA titles in 1972.  He worked at Kentucky Fried Chicken throughout college & by graduation he owned his own in Modesto.  He later also owned his own hardware store. 

Kevin Heinal
158 lbs  

Heinal took third place at 1976 CCCAA tournament. 

Mike Frendenburg
142 lbs 

A graduate of Campbell High, Frendenburg took third at the 1978 CCCAA's for the Vikings.  He then transferred to Humboldt State where he was an NCAA Division III runner-up in 1979 & a Division III champion in 1980. 

Lee Noble
150 lbs 

Noble was a CCCAA finalist in 1979. 

Don Evans 
126 lbs  

Evans was a CCCAA runner-up in 1980. 

Dodds Brothers 

Graduates of Camden High school,  the Dodds brothers were both standouts for the Vikings.  Don won a CCCAA title in 1982.  Dan was third in 1983, winning a CCCAA title himself in 1984. 

Gus Paz
134, 142 lbs 

A state champion for Watsonville, Paz was fourth in 1983 & a CCCAA runner-up in 1985. 

Matt Blevin
HWT

Blevin took fourth in the high school state championships before coming to West Valley.  While competing for the Vikings he won a CCCAA title in 1985.  He then transferred to San Francisco State where he won a NCAA Division II title in 1985.  He was later an assistant at San Francisco State. 

Shawn Gilbert 
134 lbs 

Gilbert was a CCCAA runner-up in 1988. 

Cung Le
158, 150 lbs  

Le was living in Vietnam during the height of the Vietnam conflict.  He escaped at the age of three to the United States with his mother.  Being bullied due to being Vietnamese he took up wrestling & other martial arts as a form of defending himself.  Competing for the Vikings, Le won a CCCAA title in 1990 & took third in 1991. 

He later competed in Sanshou, where he won bronze medals at the 1995, 1997 & 1999 World Championships.  He then competed in UFC & got into acting with appearances on Walker Texas Ranger & Hawaii Five-0. 

Richard Gutierrez
134 lbs  

Gutierrez was a CCCAA runner-p in 1991. 

Marcial Cruz
142 lbs 

Cruz was fifth in the high school state championships for Fremont High School. Competing for the Vikings he was seventh in the CCCAA in 1991 & he won a CCCAA in 1992. 

Ricardo Garcia
190 lbs  

Garcia was 8th in 1990 & he made the CCCAA finals in 1991. 

Gus Banuelos
126 lbs  

A graduate of Independence High School, Banuelos won back to back CCCAA titles in 1993 & 1994.  He later coached at both Cavez & Tokay High School. 

Warren Newsome
167 lbs 

A graduate of Fremont High School where he took sixth in the state championships, Newsome was third at the 1994 CCCAA tournament. 

Mario Solario

Solario never won a state title for Oak Grove high school finishing second & third, but he did win a CCCAA title for the Vikings in 1996. 

Mario Castillo
150 lbs 

Castillo was a CCCAA runner-up in 1995 & won a CCCAA title in 1996. 

Cody Wilkinson

Wilkinson was fourth in 2001 & then third in 2002 in the CCCAA championships. 

Zac Taylor
157 lbs 

Taylor won a CCCAA championship in 2005. 

Drew Fredenburg 

Son of Mike Fredenburg, Drew never placed at the high school state championships competing for Oak High School. He more than made up for it when he won a CCCAA title & was named the outstanding wrestler in 2003. 


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Again a big thank you to Al Fontes, who helped made CCCAA wrestling a part of Gone, Lost & Forgotten.