Santa Rosa Wrestling Team bags 12 medals in Batang Pinoy 2024

The Santa Rosa Wrestling Team of Santa Rosa, Laguna collected a total of 12 medals in the recently concluded 2024 Batang Pinoy held at the Mendoza Park in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

They bagged seven golds, three silvers, and two bronzes to wrap up their stint in the Palawan edition.

El John Ponting led the list of those who captured gold medals as he topped the Greco Roman (32kg) and FreeStyle Wrestling (32kg) in the 12-13 years old categories.

Ponting was named back-to-back Best Player in his age category in the 2023 and 2024 Batang Pinoy.

Three more Lagunense captured the gold in Greco Roman Wrestling: Mark Kevin Ines (48kg) and Ian Kurl Jasminez (57kg) won in the 14-15 years old category, while Kristian Jay Beato ruled the 16-17 year old group.

The other gold medalists were Jhea Mae Aban (46kg) and Marlyn Babor (61) who both won golds in the 16-17 years old category in Women's Wrestling.

Another milestone they got from Greco Wrestling were the silver medals brought by Jhon Dave Bilangel (44kg) and John Rafael Gomez (57kg) in the 14-15 years old class. Gomez also got a silver in Freestyle.

Concluding the medal haul were the bronze medals captured by Bilangel and Ines in Freestyle Wrestling.

After winning medals in Batang Pinoy, team trainer Efrelyn Calitis, who worked with trainer Michael Baletin and coach Johnlyn Aban, said: "Walang imposible sa taong may pangarap, dapat sa bawat laro o ensayo natin iisa lang tayo ng goal. (Nothing is impossible for a person with a dream. In every game or practice, we must have the same goal.)"