Wrestler Jean Paul Le-Bosnoyani makes his way to CIF State Champions

Delaney Whittet

Sports Editor

Costa junior wrestler Jean Paul Le-Bosnoyani pinned the competition as he made his way to the California Interscholastic Federation State Championships.

Le-Bosnoyani was the first Costa wrestler in 13 years to qualify for the CIF State Championships. He placed third in the CIF Southern Section Finals on Feb. 19 and 20, qualifying him for the CIF State Championship, which took place on March 4 where he placed third and is ranked 23 in state.

“This year, our goal was to get people to State, and Jean  Paul broke that barrier,” wrestling coach Jimmy Chaney said. “He is paving the way for our team because he’s showing other kids that it is possible to make it to State.”

Prior to the CIF Stat Championships, Le-Bosnoyani won Bay League in his match against Penninsula, the third year Le-Bosnoyani has won Bay League.  He went 13-0 in Bay League, pinning every wrestler he competed against during the first period

“It felt like all the hardwork that I put in during my Bay League matches had paid off when I found out that I qualified for State,” Le-Bosnoyani said.

Aside from Costa wrestling, Le-bosnoyani competes in jiu jitsu and mixed martial arts year round. Le-Bosnoyani is the current Gi and Nogi World Champion in the 170-pound weight division for jiu jitsu. Gi and Nogi are two separate divisions; Gi is with the kimono worn by jiu jitsu artists and Nogi is without. He has competed in one amateur mixed martial arts fight because there is a limited amount of competitors in his age division.

“Every time I compete in jiu jitsu, I have to defend my title as world champion, which is a lot of pressure, ” Le-bosnoyani said.

Because of his full-time mixed martial arts training, Le-Bosnoyani did not practice full-time with Costa’s wrestling team this year. He did mixed martial arts training on his own instead that implements wrestling techniques. However, he did go to 10 Costa wrestling practices prior to the State Championships.

    “The goal of every MMA fighter is to be the most well- rounded,” Le-Bosnoyani said. “Wrestling for Costa is beneficial because I can use techniques in the cage.”

Le-Bosnoyani’s goal is to win the next wrestling CIF State Championship. He is also working at becoming the youngest Ultimate Fighting Championship champion.

“I want to be the world champion in jiu jitsu and the CIF state champion, while also remaining a humble mixed martial artist,” Le-Bosnoyani said.