2026 Andrew Peña Girls & Western Dahlem Memorial - Five Wins & First LBHS Girls MVP

Boys and Girls Wrestling showcased their skills in tournament action on Friday, January 9th, and Saturday, January 10th. They competed at the Andrew Peña Girls Varsity Tournament in Irvine and the Dr. John Dahlem Pioneer Memorial Boys Invitational at Western High School in Anaheim. The Breakers had five athletes bring home hardware.

Head coach Barron Zepeda & LBHS Junior Sasha Walshe

Laguna Beach High School wrestling opened the 2026 calendar with continued momentum, turning in strong performances across two demanding varsity tournaments and reinforcing the program’s steady climb this season.

Boys Varsity Wrestling Competes at Dr. John Dahlem Pioneer Memorial Invitational

At the Dr. John Dahlem Pioneer Memorial Invitational, the boys varsity lineup battled through a loaded 30-team Southern California field. After a full day of high-intensity matches, including dominant wins and decisive pins by Brooks, Ramirez, and Busick that solidified the team's momentum, the Breakers finished 8th overall. Four athletes reached the podium.

Boys Varsity Wrestling Results — Dr. John Dahlem Pioneer Memorial Invitational (Anaheim)

Xavier Brooks (215 lbs) – 1st place, 4–0

Alek Ramirez (126 lbs) – 2nd place,4–1

Coby Busick (175 lbs) – 5th place, 4–2

Mason Mikulin (132 lbs) – 6th place, 3–3

Additional varsity competitors included PJ Kippel (106), Crosby Myers (106), Aris Azadzoi (126), Luca Blandino (132), Logan Anderson (138), Quinten D’Amico (138), Jack Groves (175), and Ori Strickland (190).

From left: LBHS Wrestling Alum Jackson Lawskey, Assistant Coach Bobby Impson, Junior Coby Busick, Junior Xavier Brooks, Junior Alek Ramirex, Senior Mason Mikulin, and Head Coach Barron Zepeda

Breakthrough Performances and Consistent Results

Among the medalists, at 132 pounds, senior Mason Mikulin battled through deep talent across six matches, finishing 3–3 on the day to place 6th and secure his first medal of the season. Junior Coby Busick also delivered a breakthrough performance, earning his first medal of the season at 175 pounds. Wrestling six matches over the course of the tournament, Busick went 4–2 to claim 5th place.

Continuing their consistent runs were California-ranked juniors, Alek Ramirez and Xavier Brooks. Both have now placed in every tournament they’ve entered this season. Ramirez turned in another sharp performance at 126 pounds, going 4–1 and advancing to the finals to take silver. Brooks remained unbeaten on the day, going 4–0 to take home gold.

Junior Sasha Walshe Takes Gold & MVP

Girls Varsity Competes at Andrew Peña Girls Varsity Tournament

Competing at Irvine High School, junior Sasha Walshe, weighing in at 110 pounds, delivered a dominant showing at the 45th Annual Andrew Peña Girls Varsity Tournament. Walshe powered through her bracket with a perfect 4–0 record, winning all four matches by pin, including three matches ending in first-round falls and one in a second-round finish.

LBHS Wrestlng Junior Sasha Walshe

Sasha Walshe Earns GOLD and Lower Weight MVP

Her standout performance not only earned her first place and the tournament’s Lower Weight MVP, but also reflects the growth of girls high school wrestling, which has seen a nearly 20 percent increase in participation nationwide, making it one of the fastest-growing high school sports for female athletes. Walshe continues to blaze a trail as the Breakers’ only female wrestler, paving the way for the growth of the LBHS girls wrestling program.