California state wrestling championships
When: Thursday-Saturday, with wrestling starting at 9 a.m. each day.
Where: Mechanics Bank Arena, Bakersfield
Boys
Defending state champion: Poway
Returning local medalists: Angelo Posada (Poway) 1st at 175; Arseni Kikiniou (Poway) 2nd at 106; Edwin Sierra (Poway) 2nd at 113; Mario Carini (Poway) 3rd at 144; Billy Townson (Poway) 5th at 126; Robert Jones (Poway) 6th at 120.
Seeded local wrestlers: Julius Villamil (Poway) No. 13 at 106; Rene Cordero (Poway) No. 11 at 113; Sierra No. 2 at 120; Ricardo Ortiz (Brawley) No. 12 at 120; Jones No. 6 at 126; Townson No. 3 at 132; Diego Arias (Brawley) No. 13 at 132; Gabriel Pacheco (Central Union) No. 12 at 132; Ames-Michael Hoevker (Granite Hills) No. 5 at 138; Matthew Orbeta (Poway) No. 6 at 138; Kikiniou No. 5 at 144; Layronz Fraser (Granite Hills) No. 15 at 144; Carlos Valdiviezo (Poway) No. 14 at 150; Bailey Holman (Poway) No. 5 at 157; Ryan Carroll (Granite Hills) No. 15 at 157; Carini No. 1 at 165; Junior Bumanglag (Granite Hills) No. 6 at 175; Gunnar Neal (Poway) No. 7 at 175; Dominic Dotson (Poway) No. 8 at 190; Posada No. 1 at 215; Sanchez No. 12 at 215; Mick Moylan (Poway) No. 3 at 285; Noah Larrios (Imperial) No. 9 at 285.
Notable: After capturing the school’s fifth state title in record fashion a year ago, Poway still has a point to prove. The Titans arrive at Bakersfield ranked No. 2 behind Clovis Buchanan, the team they beat to end a seven-year state title run last year and beat head-to-head in duals the last two seasons. The Titans are led by defending state champion Angelo Posada (41-0) and fellow state finalists Edwin Sierra (24-3) and Arseni Kikiniou (41-3) along with three other returning medalists — Mario Carini (33-2), Robert Jones (34-6) and Billy Townson (24-5). Both Posada and Sierra are looking for their fourth individual medals, a feat only done twice in the section history, before going to Stanford next year. All 14 Poway wrestlers are seeded and should make runs at a medal. Other medal contenders include Granite Hills’ Ames-Michael Hoevker (41-4), Junior Bumanglag (38-5), Esteban Sanchez (13-3) and Ryan Carroll (34-4). La Costa Canyon’s Shane Ito (32-9), Central Union’s Gabriel Pacheco (32-6) and Imperial heavyweight Noah Larios (20-3) will also be in the medal chase.
Girls
Defending state champion: Walnut
Returning local medalists: Xiomara Gallego (Poway) 4th at 115; Lauren Zaragosa (Brawley) 6th 120; Roxanne Raab (Clairemont) 7th at 135; Lucia Ledezma (Granite Hills) 4th at 140; Amber Spencer (Santana) 8th at 145.
Seeded local wrestlers: Ava Fodera (Poway) No. 2 at 105; Naomi Cordero (Poway) No. 8 at 110; Brianna Ross (San Marcos) No. 5 at 115; Ava Ebrahimi (Poway) No. 4 at 120; Ruby Julien-Newsom (Torrey Pines) No. 2 at 130; Zaragoza No. 2 at 135; Raab No. 3 at 135; Mary Snider (Rancho Bernardo) No. 1 at 140; Ledezma No. 2 at 140; Gallego No. 7 at 140; Spencer No. 4 at 145; Diana Duarte (San Marcos) No. 7 at 190.
Notable: Poway finished third at state a year ago despite having just five wrestlers. The Titans have six this year, and all are very capable of coming home with a medal. The lone returning medalist for Poway is Xiomara Gallego, who took fourth a year ago. Gallego, along with Rancho Bernardo’s unbeaten Masters Champion Mary Snider and Granite Hills’ fourth-place medalist Lucia Ledezma, give the section a formidable trio at 140 pounds. Also looking to repeat as medalists are Brawley’s Lauren Zaragosa, Clairemont’s Roxanne Raab and Santana’s Amber Spencer. Snider is the only section wrestler to earn a No. 1 seed.
— KEVIN J. FARMER
