By Ed Martin, Editor
Tiger wrestlers get within striking distance of state wrestling titles, but come up short

Lemoore High School’s Gary Joint, who was the state’s top-ranked wrestler at 126 pounds, and 182-pound Angel Solis, didn’t quite make to the finals of the California State Wrestling Championships this weekend, Solis losing late Friday night and then Joint dropping his semi-final match on Saturday to spoil both their chances of a state title.

Joint made it all the way to the semi-finals where he faced Donovin Guerrero of De La Salle High School. In a tough match, Guerrero outlasted Joint 3-2 to earn a trip to the finals. Joint was wrestling today for third place in a match scheduled between the Lemoore grappler and Buchanan High’s Brett Villareal.

Solis lost his bid for a title in the quarterfinals to Chasen Blair of Rancho Bernardo by a close 4-3 decision. He too went on to the consolation bracket where he dropped a decision to Atascadero’s Tannen Soojan.

Solis won his opening match Friday afternoon against Carter High School's Jacob Lopez, 9-2. Solis then defeated Mark Chaid, of Archbishop Mitty High School. Solis had a preliminary bye.

 Joint opened with a 7-0 victory over Brea Olinda’s Ryan Gutierrez and then defeated Jose Mejia in the second round 15-0 and technical fall. He then defeated Gilroy High’s John Fox 7-5 in the third round. He earned a spot in the semi-finals by beating Oakdale's Ricky Torres 5-3.