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Tiger wrestlers gear up for another run at West Yosemite League championship
In dual meets so far the Tigers are 5-1 and have done well in many high-profile state wrestling tournaments around the state. And it’s not only the boys who are excelling in 2016. Lemoore High’s Esperanza Cadena, a 2-time Central Valley Section wrestling champion, is at it again this year as she guns not only for another Central Section championship, but the state title as well.
Cadena is even beating up on the boys. “She’s beat 4 boys so far,” said Botelho who said she also won the Lemoore High “Last Girl Standing” tournament on Dec. 6. She was also named the Most Inspirational Wrestler at the Dennis Deliddo Tournament in December.
She’s also placed in the CIF State Girls Wrestling Championships the last two years. “She is one of the top 15 seniors in the state of California,” said Botelho.
So far Cadena is 10-2 against boys’ competition and 4-0 against the girls.
Of course the Tigers have plenty of returning talent in 2016 including Angel Solis, a standout football player who missed much of the pre-season as he helped lead his football team to a WYL championship and a place in the Valley Playoffs.
A bit stiff in his return, Solis still managed to earn a spot in the finals in the Reno tournament in early December. He lost but so far he’s compiled a 10-3 record as he prepares for WYL competition.
Another returned is Greg Guzman, a junior who is expected to win a title this year. He’s 10-3 so far in tournament competition. He lost a close decision in the finals of the Chukchansi Invitational on Dec. 12 at Madera South High School.
Botelho also has a newcomer in junior Gary Joint, who at 132 pounds has compiled an impressive 9-1 mark. “Gary ended up winning the title at Chukchansi,” said Botelho. “He beat a top-rated wrestler in the state. He was ranked really high.”
At 112 pounds Francisco Lopez won the Path of Champions tournament as a sophomore. He finished second at the Deliddo Classic. Also winning the Path of Champions was freshman Christian Alvarez at 120 pounds.
A sophomore Jacob Gonsalves is expected to compete for a league title as well at the 170-pound weight class. Gonsalves took a second in the Classic.
“We definitely will do well in the WYL,” said Botelho. “If our kids come together we will do well. We’re young but we have a lot of guys who can really wrestle well.”
The Tigers first WYL dual meet is scheduled for Jan. 14 at Redwood High School. The Tigers will battle Mt. Whitney and El Diamante in a home match on Jan. 20.
