Tigers to send six wrestlers to California State Championship in Bakersfield March 3-4

Masters medal winners (L to R) Gary Joint, Angel Solis, Joe Romero, Greg Guzman, Jacob Gonsalves, Noah Wright.

Photo Contributed by Tiger Wrestling Boosters

The Tigers will send six wrestlers to the state championships, a healthy contingent considering the amount of talent in the San Joaquin Valley.

Both Joint and 280-pound Noah Wright made it all the way to the semifinals. Wright lost in the semis to top-ranked Seth Nevills, who went on to the title. Wright finished fourth overall. Joint lost his title match 10-2 to the fourth-ranked Deloza. Both could be headed to a rematch at the state championships.

Coach Marcio Botelho was pleased overall with the results. "I'm glad our kids competed at a very high level," he said. "The Masters Tournament was packed with the best wrestlers in the state. Our boys competed with the best and did very well, and I'm hoping we can carry this momentum into next week's state tournament."

CIF State Wrestling Championships March 3-4 at Bakersfield Rabobank Arena

Joining Wright and Joint in Bakersfield will be senior Angel Solis, who lost just one match in cruising to a third-place finish in the tourney. Joe Romero, at 128, earned a spot in the state championships with his eighth-place finish.

At 145 pounds, Greg Guzman wrestled to an eighth-place finish, while 195 pounder Jacob Gonsalves captured 10th place to win a spot.

Thanks to its six wrestlers, Lemoore finished seventh in the team standings. The top spot went to perennial powerhouse Buchanan High School while Clovis finished second and Selma third. The top 10 finishers at the Masters earn spots in the state championships.