Four Central California Athletic League team championships. Twelve section title blue manners. Ten trips to the CIF State Tournament. Six Sac-Joaquin Section Masters championships. Seven state medals.
Those are just some of the accolades piled up over the past four years from the five wrestlers that took center stage Wednesday afternoon inside the Pitman High School gymnasium.
In what Pitman wrestling head coach Adam Vasconcellos described as “a historic day” for his decorated prep program, seniors Mason and Mika Ontiveros, Carter Vannest, Edward Sheeran Jr. and Isaac Padilla sat beside each other to celebrate each of their official signings to compete and study and the collegiate level.
A host of many singing ceremonies over the past four years since taking the helm as athletic director, Dustin Curtiss said that this week's ceremony was by far the largest he had ever been involved in, regardless of sport.
“I just got to take over as AD when these guys started,” Curtiss said. “Getting to watch these guys compete at the highest levels and going to these state tournaments has been really, really fun.”
Mason Ontiveros and Vannest will both be heading to Norman, Okla. to wrestle for the prolific Oklahoma University program. Mika Ontiveros, meanwhile, will be following in the footsteps of he and Mason’s older sister, Alana, at Menlo College in Atherton. Sheeran will attend the historic Virginia Military Institute in Lexington. Padilla will be going to the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky.
“It’s special to be able to send off five of our guys to college,” Vasconcellos said. “That’s what it’s all about. I couldn’t be more proud.”
Ontiveros was a state qualifier in each of his four years with the Pride, and finished as a runner-up in his sophomore and junior campaigns. Despite his success in the regional prep and national circuits, he said the moment that stands out most from his career with the Pride was placing seventh as a freshman at the 2023 CIF State Championships.
“That set the standard, my trajectory,” said Ontiveros, who verbally committed to the Sooners in late 2024. “To make it official feels amazing. I can't wait to go up there and show everybody what I’m capable of doing around the country instead of just in California.”
Vannest also announced his commitment to OU in the fall of 2024. His stock rose nationally the past two seasons with consecutive fourth-place finishes at the state tournament.
“I've been to a bunch of people's signing days, and I’d always vision in my head of me doing my speech,” Vannest said. “From being a little kid, imagining it in the shower, alone in my room, it’s pretty cool that I’m able to do this.
“A big part of the decision to go to Oklahoma was just the coaches there. They are great people, they are true to their word and they really want what’s best for you. I’ve really bought into the program. I may not be like their top guy on the recruitment big board, but I'm going to shoot way far above their expectations. My goal is to be a starter there.”
Sheeran was another state medalist who qualified to the state tournament the last two seasons, punching his tickets with two straight Masters titles. He stood atop the podium for the first time this past spring after earning seventh place.
“I put so much into this sport with the goal of placing at state, it was definitely my proudest moment,” Sheeran said. “To be able to now compete in college is amazing. A big part of (going to the Virginia Military Institute) is that both my parents were in the military. They never pushed me into it, but it was something that I was aware of and that I knew could also be an option for my life and career. And to go there and wrestle is a great opportunity.”
Padilla also qualified the past two years, overcoming times he wasn’t sure if the sport of wrestling was for him. After standing on the podium at Masters, having a strong showing at state and becoming an All-American at Virginia Beach Nationals this year, Padilla knows he is right where he belongs.
“It really has been a long journey,” he said. “I didn't know if this day would ever come. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs, and there have been times where I didn't know if I could be here, but here I am. I’m going to the University of the Cumberlands. It just felt like the right fit for me. It felt like home, and they treated me so well. The coaches were outstanding. The campus is beautiful. It checked all the boxes.”
Mika Ontiveros was never able to compete at the state level, but his accomplishments in divisional tournaments and contributions to the Pride’s team competitions were immense. There was no bigger moment than at the 2024 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II Team Duals, where he won both of his matches, including an overtime thriller to clinch Pitman’s second consecutive boys blue banner.
“Helping my team win the section duals, that was everything for me,” he said.
Making his family of decorated wrestlers proud is another motivation, and one he will carry at Menlo.
“I want to follow in my sister’s footsteps,” Mika said of 2021 state champion Alana. “I get so much support from her and from Menlo, I can’t wait to go there and compete. I’m so happy. Today is such a great day for all of us.”
