Bulldog wrestling drops its home opener to Illinois, amid heavy Lemoore presence

By Ed Martin, Editor
Lemoore Coach Marcio Botelho, a former Bulldog wrestler, with (left to right) Gary Joint, Isaiah Martinez, and Angel Solis following Friday's Fresno State wrestling match at the Save Mart Arena.
Lemoore Coach Marcio Botelho, a former Bulldog wrestler, with (left to right) Gary Joint, Isaiah Martinez, and Angel Solis following Friday's Fresno State wrestling match at the Save Mart Arena.

It was a grand homecoming for a once-vaunted wrestling program that in better times ruled the Valley – but fell victim to the ever-present budget ax. But Fresno State wrestling has returned, and its restoration was even more satisfying thanks in large part to a handful of Lemoore wrestlers, including one who just may be the best wrestler in the nation.

For the record, the Bulldogs lost, but according to those who were there on a historic night, it didn’t matter. Nearly 7,000 wrestling fans were on hand to watch the University of Illinois, an NCAA top 20 team, dismantle Fresno State 33-10.

Of course, as almost every local wrestling fan knows, the dominant Illinois squad is led by two-time national champion Isaiah Martinez, unarguably the best single wrestler ever from the San Joaquin Valley, if not California.

Martinez not only won three state wrestling titles at Lemoore, but he’s won two national titles and came within seconds of winning a third last spring. He’s currently in his senior year at Illinois and during his career has lost just one match.

Martinez wasn’t the only former Tiger in attendance Friday night. Former Lemoore state finalist and Bulldog senior Sean Williams wrestled Friday night but lost his opening bout to Travis Piotrowski.

Last year’s state finalist Angel Solis, now a freshman Bulldog starter, lost his 184-pound match against Emery Parker.

Last year’s California wrestling champ, Gary Joint, was at the match but he’s redshirting this season for the Bulldogs.

Overall the Bulldogs are 1-2 in their return engagement. They were in Bakersfield on Saturday for the annual Roadrunner Open and took on Air Force on Nov. 21 in San Diego.

 

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