Tiger grapplers take on the best as they begin promising 2018-19 wrestling season at home

The team championship, however, wound up in the hands of Santa Maria’s Righetti High School, a team that defeated the Tigers 48-35, handing the locals their only loss of the tourney. The Tigers were 4-1 in the team competition.

The Tigers, led by Wayne Joint and William Kloster, both of whom were undefeated (4-0) in the tourney kept it close with Righetti but couldn’t quite complete the job as the visitors held on for the victory.

Lemoore's Kaj Davis tries for the upper hand in his match Saturday at the Lemoore Duals.

Photo by Bill Burris, Lemooresports.com

The Tigers generally had their way with the rest of the competition defeating Liberty High School 57-18 and then blanking Reedley High 69-0. Lemoore also beat Bakersfield’s Highland High 57-18 before losing to Righetti. Finally, the Tigers held off Dinuba High 47-36.

Kloster, who excelled for the Tigers’ football team, excels on the wrestling mat as well. The talented junior grappler was one of five Tigers to earn trips to last year’s state wrestling tournament and won three matches. He lost to the eventual state champ.

Joint is the younger brother of former state champion Gary Joint now wrestling for the Fresno State Bulldogs.

Other Tigers to perform well included Jesse Gayton and Robert Brooks, both of whom compiled 3-1 marks to help lead Lemoore to its second-place finish.

Lemoore has a long season ahead. Next up for the Tigers is a non-league match at Dinuba High School on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 1 p.m.  The Emperors, whom the Tigers defeated on Saturday, are currently ranked 8th in the Central Section. On Dec. 7 the Tigers travel north to Madera South High School for the annual Chukchansi Varsity Wrestling Tournament.