With over 800 programs in the Golden State and 560 wrestlers competing this week, the single-division state tournament is considered by many as the toughest in the country. The 14-weight-class field is as diverse as the state itself and only the most mentally and physically will survive the double-elimination challenge to earn one of the 112 state medals.
Mechanics Bank Arena welcomes this exclusive group that has survived the grind of the state qualifier tournaments. Wrestlers will vie for individual glory, but several programs are looking for the team state title. In the race are the following teams.
#1 Poway (San Diego)
2023 State finish: 2nd
The Mean Green Machine is in a position to win their fifth-team state title in school history. They won their first state title in 1986, and then won team titles in 1999, and 2005, and the last state title came in 2009. With all 14 wrestlers advancing to the CIF state tournament, Poway could emerge as team state champions on Saturday evening. Potential finalists include Arseni Kikiniou (106), Edwin Sierra (113), Paul Kelly (138), Angelo Posada (175), and Robert Platt at 215-pounds. Also expected to help win the state title include Billy Townson (126), Elias Navida (132), Mario Carini (144), Laird Root (150), and Adam Farha (285). If Poway does win the team title, it would be the first under the tutelage of coach John Meyers.
#2 Buchanan (Central)
2023 State finish: 1st
No other team in California history has owned the state tournament like Buchanan High has in the last seven seasons. Buchanan will be going for an unprecedented eighth consecutive CIF state team title on Saturday evening. Coach Troy Tirapelle and staff have the numbers to do so as they also qualified all 14 members of the varsity squad. Team leaders looking for an individual state title are Blake Woodward (106), Rocklin Zinkin (113), Gavin Bauder (138), Joseph Toscano (144), Branson John (175), and Bryson Harrington (285). Additional support should also come from Chris Huerta (120), Ashton Besmer (126), Jaxtyn Frost (150), and Alec Dansby (215). The Bears will need to get those bonus points early in the rounds to get the momentum going and win another team state title.
#3 Gilroy (Central Coast)
2023 State finish: 3rd
There was no team better than Gilroy High last weekend at the Central Coast Section tournament held by Watsonville High, as the Mustangs won their 21stconsecutive CCS championship, accumulated 331.5 points, and advanced 12 wrestlers to the big dance. During the 2017-2018 and 2019 seasons the Mustangs finished as team state runners-up. This weekend they have the potential to win a team state title with potential finalists Isaiah Cortez (126), Elijah Cortez (132), Daniel Zepeda (138), Moses Mirabal (144), and Cody Merrill (285). Those finalist points could be enough to get Gilroy over the mountain and get their first CIF state team title. The postseason is an entirely different beast and Gilroy will need all the help they can get from the rest of the team.
#4 St. John Bosco (Southern)
2023 State finish: 7th
When it comes to the Southern Section, St. John Bosco is a beast of a team having won the section tournament in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023, and 2024. However, they have yet to win a team state title despite having such former athletes as Aaron Pico, Cade Olivas, Zahid, and Anthony Valencia. This season they qualified 11 wrestlers to the big show. They will need all the support they can from the entire squad. However, they’ll be led by Sean Willcox (113), Nathan Carrillo (120), Jesse Grajeda (132), Grigor Cholakyan (157), Joseph Antonio (165), and Nicholas Sahakian (285) who could pick up those clutch wins to help Bosco win a team state title.
#5 Clovis (Central)
2023 State finish: 4th
Clovis High is one of the winningest programs in the Golden State. Year after year they produce great teams and individuals. This year is no exception as they qualified 13 grapplers for the big dance. Coach Gabriel Schaeffer and the staff will need all the help they can get from the entire team to win a 14th state team title. Leaders for the Cougars are Anthony Garza (106), Thunder Lewis (113), Nikade Zinkin (126), Noah Reynolds (150), Adrien Reyes (165), and Joe Buck (175).
106lbs
Returning medalist
Multiple All-Americans in Freestyle, Greco, Folkstyle, and NHSCA, make this weight class a fun one to watch. 2024 San Diego Section champion Arseni Kikiniou (Poway) looks to be the odds-on-favorite, but the Central Section is very deep in this weight class, and they will have something to say about the results on Saturday night. Anthony Garza (Clovis) overturned the results from two weeks ago as he defeated then No. 2 Blake Woodward (Buchanan) 2-0 with a clutch takedown in the first period. We could see a sixth match occurring in the semifinals this week. A freshman making weights is Central Coast Section champion Aiden Garcia (Palma). Garcia’s lone blemish on the season was at the Christopher Bert Mar Invitational where he bumped up a weight class and lost in the finals. The lone returning state medalist from this weight class is Zack Hoover (Laguna Creek). After winning the Sac-Joaquin Section for the first time this past weekend, Hoover will be making his third trip to the state tournament. Keep an eye on double Pan-Am Champion Henry Aslikyan (Birmingham) who hopes to become the second-ever state champion from the Los Angeles City Section this weekend. The Southern Section will also have a say regarding medal distribution. Leading the contingent are gold and blue champions Hunter Jauregui (Fountain Valley) and Caine Martin (Camarillo). Can’t forget about runner-up Marcus Tolentino (Northview). Others vying for a spot on the podium include San Diego Section runner-up Emilio Escobar (Granite Hills), Sac-Joaquin Section runner-up Nathaniel Granados (Merced), and North Coast Section Champion Connor Jeong (Castro Valley High School).
113lbs
Returning medalist
No place to hide. With seven returning state medalists and three other wrestlers who finished top 12 at state, parity is the operative word for this stacked weight class. Leading the charge are Edwin Sierra (Poway) and Rocklin Zinkin (Buchanan). Sierra looked impressive at the section tournament where he defeated Abraham Cline (Granite Hills) 4-1; Cline will be representing Team U.S.A. at the prestigious Pittsburgh Classic (Dapper Dan) next month.
Sierra will attempt to keep the momentum going and win an individual state title for coach John Meyers. Rocklin Zinkin (Buchanan) won his second section title by defeating state medalist Thunder Lewis (Clovis) 7-2 in the finals. Zinkin was a state finalist a season ago at 106 pounds. Zinkin should be on the opposite side of Sierra at the state tournament and could be facing him for a third time this season and avenging two of his season losses to him.
Southern Section champions Paulo Valdez (Hesperia) and Sean Wilcox (St. John Bosco) are back to the state tournament with high hopes of improving on the state podium after having finished third and seventh respectively. Valdez got the best of Wilcox in the finals of the Reno Toc where he defeated him 8-2. After much improvement and advice from his coaches, Wilcox was able to overturn that loss and defeat Valdez 5-1 at the Doc Buchanan tournament.
We can’t forget about two other Central Section grapplers who will have a say when it comes to getting a state. Those wrestlers are Carlos Melgoza III (Kingsburg) and Anthony Castillo (Central). We knew Castillo was tough, but he put his peers on notice when he won the Zinkin Classic at 120 pounds by defeating two state-place winners. He placed third in the section tournament by defeating Melgoza 13-1.
The Sac Joquin Section has a trio of wrestlers who will be vying for a state medal this weekend in champion Elijah Almarinez (Vacaville), runner-up and state medalist Siraj Sidhu (Del Oro), and third-place finisher Elijah Valencia (Merced) grappler who finished in the blood round of state last season. Fireworks are expected to happen from the quarterfinals and on.
120lbs
Returning medalist
The Southern Section returns serious firepower at this weight class. Then No. 1 and returning state finalist Isaiah Quintero (El Dorado) was upset in the finals of the blue division by Nathan Carrillo (St John Bosco) 6-1; a takedown and near fall points early in the match with great riding skills by Carillo proved to be enough for the win. Now, they should be the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds at state with a potential second match taking place in the semifinal round.
Ronnie Ramirez (Walnut) was a state champion last season in the 113-weight class. The decision to end this year at 120 looks to be paying off, as he should enter the state tournament undefeated and the No. 1 seed. Ramirez and Quintero have some history as Quintero defeated Ramirez in the finals of the state tournament at 106 pounds.
Central Coast Champion Moses Mendoza (Gilroy) will be competing at the state tournament for the first time in his scholastic career. He should be the No. 4 seed and spoil the Southern Section plans. Mendoza lost a close match to Quintero (4-2) in the finals of the Doc Buchanan tournament.
The Southern Section has two additional wrestlers that will be vying for a state medal this weekend. They are Slater Hicks (Valencia) and Mason Carrillo (Royal). Hicks is only a freshman who lost in the section tournament (TB-1 2-1) to Ramirez of Walnut. During the regular season, Hicks placed at Doc Buchanan and Battle for the Belt; he is 2-0 versus Carillo of St. John Bosco this season.
Carillo is a two-time, now three-time state qualifier and was seventh at the state tournament last season. He placed third at the section tournament behind Carillo and Quintero. Being a state finalist doesn’t guarantee a state title the following year.
With that said, we can’t forget about Antonio Rodriguez (Los Gatos). Rodriguez started the pre-season strong by placing at the prestigious Super 32 tournament and kept that momentum during the regular season. He finished second at the Central Coast Section behind Mendoza.
Other medal hopefuls include Central Section Champion Chris Huerta (Buchanan), runner-up Caleb Rivas (Golden West), Sac-Joaquin Section Champion Josiah Sandoval (Elk Grove), runner-up Orion Hill (Folsom), third place finisher Kekoa Ogawa (Central Catholic), and San Diego Section champion Robert Jones (Poway).
126lbs
Returning medalist
Returning state champion Isaiah Cortez (Gilroy) will be vying for a second consecutive state title, but this time at a different weight class. The University of Cornell recruit has looked impressive all season long and has won titles at Reno Toc, Doc Buchanan, MidCals, and the always-tough Louisiana Classic. He won his third section title by defeating returning state qualifier Joseph Pavlov-Ramirez (Los Gatos) 14-2. Cortez will look to keep the momentum going this week.
Cortez’s biggest competition should come from three-time Central Section champion Nikade Zinkin (Clovis). Zinkin has been solid for Clovis High with both of his blemishes coming to some of the best in the country such as Cortez and Ben Davino (St. Charles East, Illinois), and now four-time Illinois state champion. Zinkin should get the No. 2 seed at the state tournament and could be facing No. 3 seed Billy Townson (Poway) in the semifinal round.
Townson was fourth in the state last year, and before that, he finished in the blood round. He will be a tough opponent for any wrestler that draws him this week. Jeff Lopez (Clovis West) will be making his second appearance at the tournament for the Golden Eagles. He had a great section tournament that saw him place second behind Zinkin by a 2-0 score. In the semifinal round of the section tournament, Lopez pinned Ashton Besmer (Buchanan) a 2023 US Open Freestyle runner-up in the 15U division in the second period. Besmer owns a win this season over Zinkin as he defeated him 4-3 in the finals of the Zinkin Classic. Keep an eye on both Lopez and Besmer as both have the potential to upset some of the elite wrestlers in this weight class.
A pair of Southern Section Foos that will be aiming to claim a state title are Anthony Lucio (Fountain Valley) and Michael Romero (St. John Bosco). Both were triumphant in claiming section titles this past weekend. Lucio is a Cal Poly commit who will be looking to improve on his sixth-place finish at state. He won the gold division of the Southern Section with a tough 3-2 win over the No. 8 wrestler in this weight class Christian Garcia (Walnut).
Romero is a tough freshman who has had great success in freestyle and now is doing the same in folkstyle. He won the blue division by defeating Mateo Ochoa (Martin Luther King) via a 12-2 major decision.
Other wrestlers to keep an eye on are Sac-Joaquin Section champion Eziequel Vela (Oakdale), runner-up Kyle Holtberg (St. Mary`s), third-place finisher Kaden Obien (West Park), and Southern Section grappler Aaron Silva (Calvary Chapel).
132lbs
Returning medalist
This is another brutal weight class that includes a returning state champion and five additional grapplers with state medals. A year ago, Victor Alexander Gutierrez (Central Catholic) made his debut at the state tournament and finished in the blood round. This year, he has elevated his level and will look to capture a state title for himself and coach Emilio Saavedra. During the regular season, Gutierrez went 1-1 competing against Elijah Cortez (Gilroy), a returning state champion. They look to be on a collision course to meet up for a third time on Saturday night.
Cortez is only a junior who will be taking his talent to the University of Cornell. His lone blemish of the season was to Gutierrez; he will look to take the series lead and obtain a second consecutive state title. Another tough freshman from St. John Bosco looking to make waves at the state tournament is Jesse Grajeda. Grajeda shocked those in attendance by finishing as the runner-up behind Cortez at the Doc Buchanan tournament. Grajeda won the Southern Section blue division with ease by upholding his final opponent to only six points and winning 14-6.
Coach Jason Lowe hopes that Richard Murillo (Canyon Springs) can become a state champion this weekend for the Cougars. With two state medals under his belt, Murillo has the experience and knowledge to get the job done.
We can’t forget about the San Diego Section champion Elias Navida (Poway). Navida is eager to once again be on the state podium after failing to do so last season. Coach John Meyers is a mastermind when it comes to having his kids ready for the state tournament; don’t sleep on his grappler.
The Central Section has always been one of the toughest sections to compete in. It was displayed this weekend how tough it is when two-time state medalist Damien Alvarez (Selma) placed seventh in the 32-man bracket. Former state medalist Jacob Perez (Monache) won the bracket and was the lower weights most outstanding wrestler. In the finals, Perez defeated Paris Ruiz (Buchanan) 10-5 with a late takedown and reversal in the third period.
Keep an eye on Leo Maestas (Clovis West), Eli Granada (Clovis), and Leo Macias (Kingsburg), who finished third, fourth, and fifth, and have the potential to earn a state medal this weekend.
Other wrestlers vying for a state medal this weekend include Centra Coast Section runner-up Bryce Luna (St. Francis), Sac-Joaquin Section runner-up Ryan Espiritu (Vacaville), and Southern Section gold division runner-up Joshua Requena (Camarillo).
138lbs
Returning medalist
This weight class includes the No. 1 wrestler in the country at 138 pounds Daniel Zepeda (Gilroy) as well as Paul Kelly (Poway) a wrestler who was ranked top five in the country all season long. A potential matchup could come down between these two exceptional grapplers who we are sure to be seeing compete at the next level.
Last season, Zepeda made a name for himself when he won the CIF state tournament at 132 pounds. Zepeda was then invited to the prestigious Who’s Number 1 event where he outwrestled Pennsylvania phenom Bo Bassett by pinning him in the 6:27 mark of their match. After having competed in one or even two weight classes above his original weight class, Zepeda is back down to his weight and will be looking for that second state title this weekend.
Super 32, Freestyle, and Greco All-American are some of Kelly’s accolades. Despite all that success, he has yet to win a coveted CIF state title. He will look to do so before staying locally attending Cal Baptist and competing in the Big12 conference.
The Central Section won’t go down quietly as they have several grapplers that will try and spoil the meeting between Zepeda and Kelly. They include Gavin Bauder (Buchanan), Alek VanBebber (Kingsburg), Aiden Simmons (Bakersfield), and Wyatt Lewis (Clovis). Bauder was second to Zepeda at last year’s CIF state finals. He recently won the Central Section tournament by defeating VanBebber in the finals, 6-1.
VanBebber will be making his third trip to the state tournament and attempting to earn a state medal for the first time after having finished in the blood round at the state tournament on two occasions. He had a great showing at the section tournament as he defeated state medalist Aiden Simmons (Bakersfield) 3-2 in the semifinal round.
Clovis High always produces top-notch quality wrestlers almost every season. This year, Lewis has been solid for the Cougars and proved that by placing fourth in the always-tough Central Section. Expect a great showing by him this weekend at the state tournament.
Another section that always produces top wrestlers and this year is no exception is the Southern Section. Champions Hercules Windrath (Fountain Valley) and Jacob Bell (Etiwanda) will be vying for a state medal as well. Windrath will be looking for the second state medal of his career, while Bell will attempt for a third try after failing to so do on two occasions.
Aside from Zepeda, the Central Coast has two other wrestlers who will be vying for a state medal. They are Timothy Murabito (Los Gatos) and Matthew Luna (St. Francis). Both grapplers will be competing at the state tournament for a third time. Other medal hopefuls include Bryce Gonzales (Norco), Mathius Garza (Eisenhower), Gianluca Munoz (Bishop Amat), Sac-Joaquin Section champion Jeremiah Bertalotto (Turlock), San Diego Section runner-up Gabriel Pacheco (Central Union), and three-time Los Angeles City Section champion John Alvarez (San Fernando).
144lbs
Returning medalist
There are five returning state medalists in this weight class. However, one of the clear favorites to win an individual state title is sophomore Joseph Toscano of Buchanan High. A state finalist a year ago, Toscano has had a solid season that includes winning titles at the Zinkin Classic and Five Counties, while finishing second to a top recruit from the state of Ohio in the finals of the Doc Buchanan Tournament. Toscano was victorious at the section tournament as he defeated Braden Priest (Bakersfield) No. 11 (3-1) in the semifinals, and then Thomas Thongseng (Exeter) No. 3 in the state 6-1 in the finals.
Gilroy coach Daniel Cormier always has his athletes ready for the big show; there’s no doubt about that. Senior Moses Mirabal should be ready to win an individual state title after having finished fifth at 138 pounds a year ago. Mirabal recently became a three-time section champion by defeating all opponents he faced via bonus points.
Max Delbosque (Clovis North) is a tough individual from the Central Section. He finished third at the section tournament behind Toscano and Thongseng a week ago. This season he won the Zinkin Classic and made the podium at the tough Doc Buchanan tournament.
The Green Mean Machine has a freshman who had a great section tournament in Mario Carini (Poway). Carini proved he could hang with the big boys as he defeated 2023 state medalist Marcus Caro (Rancho Bernardo) 3-2 in the finals of the San Diego Section.
Keep an eye on Cal Poly committee Jagger French (Del Oro) who recently won his second consecutive Sac-Joaquin Section title in dominating fashion. He will attempt and finish the year strong by earning a state medal.
Sophomore, Alias Raby (Anderson) will be in the hunt for his second state medal after having finished in seventh place as a freshman.
The Southern Section has four grapplers that will be vying for a state medal. They are Ryder Yoshitake (San Marino), Viviano Gutierrez (Northview), Dylan Guillermo (Palm Desert), and Slava Shahbazyan (Chaminade). All four have the potential to become state-place winners for their respective schools.
150lbs
Returning Medalist
The 150-weight class in the state of California is widely considered one of the toughest in the country with such wrestlers as Brock Mantanona, Miguel Estrada, Lair Root, and E.J. Parco. Many would have thought that two-time state champion Miguel Estrada (Frontier) would’ve been the favorite at this weight. That is not the case, unbeaten and two-time state finalist Brock Mantanona is the man to beat at this weight.
A former Freestyle World Bronze medalist, Mantanona has looked efficient all season by winning such events as Doc Buchanan and winning his section tournament by pinning his final opponent in less than 0:10 seconds.
Miguel Estrada (Frontier) is a University of Iowa commit and aiming to win his third consecutive CIF state title. He had a short season due to injury, Nevertheless, he looked impressive at his section tournament as he defeated all foes via bonus points. Not an easy feat; especially when one competes in the always tough central section.
The University of North Carolina is going to get a good one in Laird Root of Poway. Root has been the backbone of the Poway wrestling team this season. In the semifinal round of his section tournament, Root defaulted from his match despite being up 5-1. Like a true warrior, Root battled back in the backside and managed to punch his ticket to the state tournament. A healthy Root will be tough for any individual that has to face him.
If the surname Parco sounds familiar, E.J. is the youngest sibling of multiple-time All-American Kyle Parco of Arizona State. Parco has placed fifth at the state tournament twice; a third time is unacceptable, and it won’t happen. Parco’s lone losses were to three-time Idaho state champion Jason Mara and Mantanona in sudden victory over time.
The semifinal round is going to barnburner matches if these four grapplers do meet in the semifinals.
Other grapplers to keep an eye on include Sac-Joaquin section champion Anthony Berg (Whitney), Central section runner-up Noah Reynolds (Clovis), Central section bronze medalist Jaxtyn Frost (Buchanan), Southern Section gold bracket champion Mikel David Uyemura (San Marino), and Southern Section gold bracket runner-up Sean Otero (Norwalk).
157lbs
Returning Medalist
Five wrestlers are expected to play a part in the next level (Division I) in such conferences as the BIG10, PAC12, and the ACC. Expect some fireworks to arise when the referee blows his whistle to signal the start of the state tournament. In charge of this weight is Rutgers commit Andrew Barbosa (Palm Desert).
Barbosa’s moment of truth came at the Doc Buchanan tournament where he defeated various opponents ranked in the country (including a win over Grigor Cholakyan, the No. 2 ranked wrestler in this weight) to become a winner of the prestigious cowboy hat. Since then, he has been unstoppable. Barbosa won the Southern Section blue bracket by defeating Brian Leon (Eleanor Roosevelt) 10-7. Leon is the No. 7 ranked wrestler in this weight class.
Grigor Cholakyan (St. John Bosco) is one of the leaders of the St. John Bosco wrestling team and one of the favorites to probably meet up with Barbosa on Saturday night. The two-time state medalist’s lone defeat of the season was to Barbosa in the semifinals of the Doc Buchanan tournament. He won the Southern Section gold bracket by defeating Arvin Khosravy (Chaminade) 15-2; Arvin will enter the state tournament as the No. 5 ranked wrestler at this weight.
An interesting scenario occurred at the Central Section tournament. Christopher Creason (El Diamante) seeded No. 3 defeated the No. 4 Beau Priest (Bakersfield) and No. 3 Leo Contino (Buchanan) at this weight class to be crowned a section champion. What made his win even more special was the fact that he pinned Contino in the first round of their match.
Jack Estevez (Poway) returns to the state tournament after having missed the 2023 edition. Now at Poway High, Estevez won the San Diego Section by defeating 2023 state qualifier Ryan Carroll (Granite Hills) 7-1.
Other grapplers to keep an eye on are Central Coast champion Travis Grace (Gilroy) who finished in the blood round at state last year, Christian Pebley (Ponderosa) who won the Sac-Joaquin Section and will be making his third trip to state, and Antonio Aramburu (Corona Del Mar) a third-place finisher at the always tough Southern Section.
165lbs
Returning Medalist
With no fewer than four wrestlers with legit shots coming out on top, this is going to be another great weight class to watch unfold! Collin Guffey (Granite Hills) is a two-time state medalist and was a state finalist last season at 152 pounds. The University of Standford commit has yet to have a blemished on his record and has won such prestigious events as the Doc Buchanan and Battle for the Belt tournaments.
The main contender should be Joseph Antonio (St. John Bosco). Antonio put the nation on notice when he finished as the runner-up at the prestigious Super 32 tournament. Antonio’s lone loss came in the finals of the Doc Buchanan tournament when he fell 5-4 to Guffey.
A third wrestler ready to obstruct the meeting between Guffey and Antonio is Adrien Reyes (Clovis). The two-time state medalist punched his ticket to the state tournament for a third consecutive year and won the section tournament after having been a runner-up in back-to-back years.
Evan Manzo (Etiwanda) became the first athlete from Etiwanda to claim a Southern Section title and did it in fashion by defeating 2023 state medalist David Alonso (Palm Desert) to avenge an early defeat.
Arjun Nagra (Vacaville) had a heck of a Sac-Joaquin tournament as he knocked out two grapplers ranked in the top 10. In the semifinal round, Nagara defeated two-time state place winner Carlos Garcia (Oakdale) 3-1 in overtime and then defeated Brodie Johnson (Pitman) 4-3. At one point in the match against Johnson, Nagra was down 0-4 before recording a reversal and near-fall points to get the win.
Other grapplers to keep an eye on are three-time Northern Section champion Ryan Clink (Chico), San Diego Section runner-up Aliaksandr Kikiniou (Poway), Central Section runner-up Austin Simmons (Bakersfield), and San Diego Section bronze medalist Brae Sepulveda (La Costa Canyon).
175lbs
Returning Medalist
There are several very quality wrestlers at 175 but Poway’s junior Angelo Posada has to be regarded as the favorite. A state runner-up last season, Posada has looked terrific for the Green Mean Machine. He won the notible Doc Buchanan tournament and placed second at the Battle for the Belt as he injury defaulted in the finals. Posada oppressed the field at the section tournament as no opponent made it past the first round. A likely opponent for Posada in the finals could be Mason Ontiveros (Pitman). The senior won his first Sac-Joaquin section tournament by knocking out No. 6 Levi Bussey (Granite Bay) 3-1.
A trio of Central Section wrestlers who will be making some noise at the state tournament include Branson John (Buchanan), Joe Buck (Clovis), and Jacob Honey (Bakersfield). Even though not having any state experience, John won the distinguished Central Section by defeating Buck 3-0 in the finals in a field that included six additional wrestlers who qualified for the state tournament during the 2023 season. In spite of finishing in third place at the central section, Honey should be regarded as a high candidate to earn a third CIF state medal. He has signed with Cal Poly and will be competing for the Mustangs next season.
Max McWilliams (Calvary Chapel SA) will make an effort and claim an individual state title for the Churchboyz. The last grappler to do so was Andrew Sparks who won it in 2020.
Other grapplers to keep an eye on are Southern Section gold bracket champion Primo Catalano (Chaminade), Sac-Joaquin bronze medalist Larry Borelli (Los Banos), Central Coast champion Isaiah Rangel (Palma), Central Section fourth place finisher Jackson Cinfel (Clovis North), and two-time North Coast Section champion Logan Bruce (Maria Carrillo High School).
190lbs
Returning Medalist
This weight class is packed with talent from top to bottom. Despite everything, the top grappler who most likely could win a state title is Sonny Kling (Canyon Springs). Cal Baptist University has a hidden gem in him as he is tough on top when he puts those boots in the competition. At this moment he is undefeated on the season and won his third section title this past weekend.
Brockton Borelli (Los Banos) won his second Sac-Joaquin section title by upsetting Thomas Sandoval (Vacaville) 6-5. Borelli is a solid wrestler with only one blemish this season: a 9-2 loss to Costa.
Sandoval entered the section tournament undefeated but failed to win a section title as he was defeated by Borelli. Sandoval has placed fourth at the state tournament on two occasions. He will take his talent to the EIWA as he will be competing next season for Brown University.
Diego Costa (Palm Desert) will venture and attain another state medal after having finished sixth during the 2022 season. Costa won his first section title by defeating Khale McDonnell (Fountain Valley) 3-1.
McDonnell is ranked No. 5 in this weight class. Eugenio Franco (Corona Del Mar) was third at the state tournament last year. This year he has had some problems and has dropped some close matches. He forfeited his final match at the section tournament.
Let’s see if he can enter the state tournament healthy and ready to win another state medal. David Calkins (Liberty) won a second North Coast title. He is only a sophomore and has the potential to eventually become a four-time section champion.
Other grapplers to keep an eye on are Sac-Joaquin bronze medalist Wes Burford (Oakdale), Central Section champion Sean-Michael Roberts (Buchanan), two-time state medalist Mark Marin (Clovis), and San Diego Section champion Mason Walsh (Carlsbad).
215lbs
Returning Medalist
At the start of the season, 215 pounds looked to be one of the most open weights in California, and while much of that narrative held, two wrestlers — Coby Merrill and Robert Platt — stand alone as the top two competitors at this weight class. Both grapplers met in the finals of the Doc Buchanan tournament with Merrill coming out on top with a 3-2 win. A second match is expected to take place this weekend in Bakersfield.
Michael Murillo (Bakersfield) has won the state bronze medal on two occasions. He is currently undefeated versus competitors from California; both of his losses have come to wrestlers from Nevada and Utah. He looked smooth at the section tournament as he won all of his five matches via bonus points. Murrillo will need to come out with a different scheme in his strategy as he will most likely be on the same side as Platt and could eventually meet up in the semifinal round.
Ryland Whitworth (Fountain Valley) is also a two-time state-place winner and a two-time Southern Section champion. He should be the No. 4 seed at the state tournament and when all is said and done could meet up with another Southern Section foe in Merrill. He lost to Merrill via a fall in the quarterfinal round of the Doc Buchanan tournament.
Two-time Sac-Joaquin Section champion Elias Corona (Oakdale) will also attempt and sneak his way onto the podium after having finished in the blood round of state last season. Alec Dansby (Buchanan) wrestled at the state tournament last season and finished within a match from placing. This year, he is down a weight class and finished as the runner-up at the always-tough Central Section.
Other grapplers vying for a state medal include Southern Section grapplers Kevin Rodriguez (Chaminade), and Diego Morales (Palm Desert), Central Section wrestlers Dominic Wilson (Tulare Union), and Angel Cervantes (Highland), and North Coast Section champion Jayden Tadeo Gosal (John F Kennedy High).
285lbs
Returning medalist
This weekend, California fans in attendance at the state tournament will probably get to see two of the best heavyweights in the country Cody Merrill (Gilroy) and Nicholas Sahakian (St. John Bosco) go at it for a second time. Merrill was triumphant in claiming an individual state title during the 2022 season but did not compete last season. Having said that, he went to compete at the Junior National tournament in Fargo, North Dakota during the summer and dominated all competitors he met.
Sahakian is a returning state champion competing up a weight. He took part in the Super 32 tournament and won the event by defeating former two-time state champion Daniel Herrera. Both grapplers met in the finals of the Doc Buchanan tournament, with Merrill winning a close 3-1 match.
The Central Section has some accomplished wrestlers who have been tested all season and will be jockeying for a state medal in Bryson Harrington (Buchanan), Joey Chacon (Clovis West), Gary Avila (Bullard), and Adam Stanley (Bakersfield).
Harrington is a senior who cracked the Buchanan varsity lineup for the first time this season. He is a multiple-time Folkstyle and NHSCA All-American and will look to add a state medal to his resume. Harrington won the section title by defeating Chacon 3-2 in the finals. Chacon is a two-time, now three-time state qualifier who finished within a match from placing at the state tournament last season.
A big question we had to ask ourselves is if Adam Stanley of Bakersfield will be able to compete this week at the state tournament. He defaulted from the finals of the Central Division I tournament and did so again during his semifinal match of the section tournament.
Adam Farha (Poway) is an experienced Freestyle grappler who finished in eighth place at the CIF state tournament last season. He will reattempt to create that feat again and get those points to help Poway win a team state title this weekend.
Declan Follette (Laguna Creek) had an incredible weekend at the Sac-Joaquin tournament where he won the bracket that included the No. 6 and No. 8 wrestlers in this weight class.
We can’t forget about three Southern Section grapplers who would be vying for state medals in Miguel Saldana (Indio), Justice El Sayad (Temecula Valley), and Jon Silvestri (Yorba Linda).
Based in Western PA. Right in the heart of WPIAL country, Todd brings an insider’s view from the country’s epicenter of wrestling. He’s excited to build on the TKDWN tradition of starting with the story first. The athletes, the coaches, their families and supporters, there is no shortage of stories to tell. And Todd will bring his unique perspective to help us continue to deliver top notch content for the world’s greatest sport!
