Winning!
Juan Diego Andrade is a senior at Granite Hills Porterville. He also is deaf.
“JD” began wrestling as a sophomore. During practices or matches, his interpreter could always be found circling the mat, signing assistance, and giving visual cues.
For two years, Andrade did not win a match. Yet, he persisted. There’s more to athletic competition than winning or losing on the scoreboard.
JD went out for wrestling again as a senior, competing in the heavyweight division at 245 pounds. His coach noticed that JD’s work ethic had improved and that he was more determined than ever to see success on the mat.
On Dec. 23, at the Path of Champions JV Invitational at Lemoore High, he finally broke through, recording two pins, one using the “Hawkeye” technique, the other using “the barbed wire.”
“He drilled those moves at practice repeatedly and saw their effectiveness in competition,” said coach Martin Kouyoumtjian.
Congratulations JD! We will check in with you again in the hopes of hearing about other successes!
A look back
2023 CIF State Championships Team Results
Boys
1. Buchanan 244
2. Poway 202.5
3. Gilroy 194
4. Clovis 173
5. Bakersfield 166.5
6. Palm Desert 165
7. St. John Bosco 163.5
8. Los Gatos 89
9. Granite Hills (El Cajon) 76
10. Oakdale 75
Girls
1. Marina 114
2. Walnut 88
3. Pitman 86
4. Gilroy 73
5. Golden Valley 62
6. Buchanan 57.5
7. Evergreen Valley 55
8. Northview 54
9. Redwood (Visalia) 45
10. Clovis East 41
10. Golden West 41
Underclass CIF State Champions
Boys
113 – Ronnie Ramirez, Walnut (Sophomore in 2023)
120 – Isaiah Cortez, Gilroy (Soph.)
126 – Elijah Cortez, Gilroy (Soph).
132 – Daniel Zepeda, Gilroy (Soph.)
145 – Miguel Estrada, Frontier (Bakersfield) (Jr.)*
195 – Robert Platt, Brawley (Jr.)
220 – Nicholas Sahakian, St. John Bosco (Soph.)
285 – Daniel Herrera, Palm Desert (Jr.)*
* = Two-time champions
Girls
106 – Anaya Falcon, Walnut (Junior in 2023)*
116 – Isabella Marie Gonzalez, Clovis East (Soph.)
137 – Gianna DiBenedetto, Bella Vista (Jr.)
143 – Jennah Creason, Redwood (Visalia) (Jr.)
150 – Duda Rodrigues, Newport Harbor (Jr.)
160 – Leilani Lemus, Clovis (Fr.)
* = Two-time champion
Underclass CIF State placers (top 8)
Boys
106
2. Rocklin Zinkin, Buchanan (Freshman in 2023)
3. Abram Cline, Granite Hills (El Cajon) (Jr.)
4. Thunder Lewis, Clovis (Fr.)
5. Siraj Sidhu, Del Oro (Loomis), (Fr.)
6. Paulo Valdes, Hesperia (Soph.)
7. Sean Wilcox, St. John Bosco (Fr.)
8. Zachary Hoover, Laguna Creek (Soph).
113
1. Ramirez
2. Antonio Rodriguez, Los Gatos (Fr.)
3. Christopher Huerta, Jr., Buchanan (Fr.)
5. Edwin Sierra, Poway (Soph.)
6. Anthony Lucio, Fountain Valley (Jr.)
7. Mason Carillo, Royal (Jr.)
8. Caleb Rivas, Golden West (Soph).
120
1. Cortez
2. Isaiah Quintero, El Dorado (Placentia) (Jr.)
3. Nikade Zinkin, Clovis (Soph.)
4. Billy Townson, Poway (Soph.)
7. Eziequel Vela, Oakdale (Jr.)
126
1. Cortez
2. Joseph Toscano, Buchanan (Fr.)
3. Damien Alvarez, Selma, (Jr.)
4. Aiden Simmons, Bakersfield (Soph).
5. Bryce Luna, Saint Francis (Mountain View) (Jr.)
6. Richard Murillo, Canyon Springs (Jr.)
132
1. Zepeda
2. Gavin Bauder, Clovis North (Jr.)
6. Jacob Perez, Monache (Soph).
7. Alias Raby, West Valley (Fr.)
138
2. Brock Mantanona, Palm Desert (Jr.)
3. Paul Kelly, Poway (Jr.)
4. Grigor Cholakyan, St. John Bosco (Jr.)
5. Moses Mirabel. Gilroy (Jr.)
6. Hercules Windrath, Fountain Valley (Jr.)
145
1. Estrada
2. Laird Root, Poway (Jr.)
3. Beau Priest, Bakersfield (Soph.)
4. Joseph Antonio, St. John Bosco (Soph.)
5. Ethan Parco, Los Gatos (Jr.)
6. Andrew Barbosa, Palm Desert (Jr.)
7. Marcus Caro, Rancho Bernardo (Jr.)
8. Thomas Thongseng, Exeter Union (Jr.)
152
2. Collin Guffey, Granite Hills (El Cajon) (Jr.)
4. Leo Contino, Buchanan (Soph.)
8. Aliaksandr Kikiniou, Poway (Jr.)
160
2. Angelo Posada, Poway (Soph.)
4. Dylan Pile, Los Gatos (Soph.)
5. Joe Buck, Clovis (Jr.)
6. Jake Honey, Bakersfield (Jr.)
7. David Alonso, Palm Desert (Jr.)
170
4. Carlos Garcia, Oakdale (Jr.)
5. Mason Ontiveros, Pitman, (Fr.)
6. Adrien Reyes, Clovis (Soph.)
7. Max McWilliams, Calvary Chapel (Santa Ana) (Jr.)
182
2. Sonny Kling, Canyon Springs (Jr.)
4. Thomas Sandoval, Vacaville (Jr.)
6. Jonathan Rocha, Buchanan (Fr.)
8. Wes Burford, Oakdale (Fr.)
195
1. Robert Platt, Brawley (Jr.)
2. Coby Merrill, Gilroy (Fr.)
3. Eugenio Franco, Corona del Mar (Jr.)
5. Ryland Whitworth, Fountain Valley (Jr.)
6. Mark Marin, Clovis (Soph).
8. David Calkins, Liberty (Brentwood) (Jr.)
220
1. Sahakian
3. Michael Murillo, Bakersfield (Jr.)
8. Dominic Wilson, Tulare Union (Soph.)
285
1. Herrera
3. Adam Stanley, Bakersfield (Soph.)
8. Adam Farha, Poway (Jr.)
Underclass CIF State placers (top 8)
Girls
101
3. Olivia Lopez, Hamilton (Jr.)
4. Kaiya Maggini, Del Oro (Loomis) (Fr.)
6. Katherine Hernandez, Bell Gardens (Jr.)
7. Avy Perez, Birmingham (Soph.)
8. Monee Cordero, Highland (Jr.)
106
1. Falcon
4. Cynthia Meza, Calaveras (Soph.)
5. Sophia Cornish, Tesoro (Jr.)
7. Birta McCaskill, Mira Mesa (Jr.)
8. Aleena Nguyen, Central Catholic (Fr.)
111
3. Kylee Golz, Trabuco Hills (Soph.)
4. Deandra Meza, Walnut (Soph.)
5. Mikayla Garcia, James Logan (Jr.)
6. Eden Hernandez, San Clemente (Jr.)
7. Me’kala James, Central (Fresno) (Fr.)
8. Karma Pugh, Buchanan (Jr.)
116
1. Gonzales
5. Christina Osorio, Downey (Jr.)
7. Mackenzie Muniz, Hillcrest (Jr.)
121
2. Lilyana Balderas, Anaheim (Fr.)
3. Samantha Sachs, Glendora (Soph.)
4. Aljandra Valdiviezo, Poway (Jr.)
6. Mason Harsch, Monte Vista (Danville) (Jr.)
126
2. Baya Austin, Pitman (Fr.)
3. Tamara Grace, Gilroy (Fr.)
5. Kayla Edwards, Rancho Buena Vista (Jr.)
6. Jasmine Macias, Walnut (Jr.)
7. Alondra Juarez, Alisal (Jr.)
131
2. Gabryella Austin, Pitman (Soph.)
4. Sophia Hejnal, Enochs (Jr.)
5. Delarie Juarez, Brawley (Soph.)
8. Renice Gonzalez, Colony (Soph.)
137
1. DiBenedetto
3. Olivia Davis, Monte Vista (Danville) (Fr.)
4. Kaylee Tuavao, Tokay (Soph.)
5. Alex Maday, Whitney (Soph.)
7. Julissa Gonzalez, Shafter (Fr.)
143
1. Creason
2. Adelaida Fernandez, Birmingham (Fr.)
3. Berlyn Davis, San Clemente (Jr.)
4. Samantha Arce, Mater Dei (Jr.)
8. Luana Stathopoulos, Novato (Jr.)
150
1. Rodrigues
3. Mikayla Lancaster, Gregori (Jr.)
4. Avangeline Turner, Davis (Jr.)
5. Kaiulani Garcia, Gilroy (Jr.)
6. Audrey Segura, Redwood (Visalia) (Soph.)
160
1. Lemus
4. Julianna Marquez, San Dimas (Soph.)
170
2. Kathryn Hingano, Rio Linda (Jr.)
7. Julissa Perez, Mira Monte (Fr.)
189
3. Alex Perez, La Costa Canyon (Soph.)
4. Briana Alvarado, Highland (Fr.)
6. Katianna Martinez, Evergreen Valley (Soph.)
8. Behnaz Agahzadeh, Los Osos (Jr.)
235
3. Anna Bozanic, Liberty Winchester (Fr.)
4. Kyree Rubio, Canyon Springs (Jr.)
5. Gemma Templeman, Rocklin (Jr.)
7. Julia Gomez, East Nicolaus (Jr.)
8. Estrella Vasquez-Gutierrez, Greenfield (Jr.)
News and notes
This year, boys are wrestling in different classes starting in the middle weights. The old classifications were 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195 and 220. The new classifications are 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190 and 215.
***
Palm Desert’s Daniel Herrera repeated as heavyweight champion last year. But he will not join two others in CIF wrestling history as three-team champions in the heavyweight division. Over the summer, the Iowa State football/wrestling recruit moved to Ames, Iowa. He is now competing for Ames HS, where he hopes to see better heavyweight competition in the wrestling-rich state.
***
When Robert Platt won the 195-pound bracket last year at state, he became the first state champion ever in the storied history of Brawley wrestling.
Platt has since transferred and is now wrestling for Poway, last year’s state runner-up.
***
Poway is absolutely loaded this year and could challenge Buchanan, which hasn’t lost a boys team title since 2015. Poway has four team titles all-time, the last in 2009.
Poway head coach John Meyers told local papers that his Titans could have state placers (top 8 finish) in all 14 weight classes this year.
If this past weekend’s Doc Buchanan tournament is any indication, Poway might already be the favorite. Poway won the team competition, scoring 50 more points than third-place Buchanan. Eight Poway wrestlers registered top-five finishes, led by champions Paul Kelly (141) and Angelo Posada (178).
We will have more on the “Doc B” in Friday’s Notebook.
***
Last year, with Cody Merrill, the 2022 state champion at 195 pounds, sidelined due to injury, another Gilroy wrestler made the 195-pound final: freshman Coby Merrill.
Coby Merrill made news in the off-season by transferring back to his home school, J.W. North in Riverside, while his big brother, Cody, an Oklahoma State signee, will continue to attend Gilroy virtually throughout his senior year.
Both Merrill brothers earned cowboy hats at the Doc B on Saturday, with Coby defeating Platt, 3-2, at 218; while Cody edged Nicholas Sahakian of St. John Bosco, 3-1, in the heavyweight division.
***
Kennedy wrestling: from pointless to league champs in five years!
Five years ago, Kennedy of Fremont, scored zero points in the Mission Valley Athletic League Tournament. Last year, the Titans won the league title, their second all-time, and almost 40 years from their first. The girls team “piled on” with two section placers.
This year could bring even more distinction, as JFK has five athletes mentioned in the state wrestling rankings, with Jayden Tadeo Gosal the highest at ninth at 215 pounds.
The middle school program established six years ago has been a big reason for the turnaround, but even more important has been the commitment of the wrestlers in the program.
“I really believe that we have a core of young men and women who are hard-working and supportive,” said coach Jay Jackson. “Every solid program turnaround starts with a core group of dedicated athletes who help each other succeed. It really is a fantastic group.”
***
Steven Nelsen stepped down at San Lorenzo High School after restarting the program there seven years ago. Nelsen wanted to have more time for his kids, including a sophomore boy at Acalanes, his alma mater. Acalanes was struggling to find a new head wrestling coach and, as they say, timing is everything. Nelsen is now the head wrestling coach at his alma mater.
Many of the coaches at San Lorenzo remain, but Nelsen brought coach Cliff Olson with him. Olson turned 81 years old on New Year’s Eve and is retiring this year after 60 years as a wrestling coach!
“His number one supporter is his wife, Ann, who has been by his side all 60 years and allowed him to do what he loves,” Nelsen explained. “He still likes to get down on the mat to demo from time to time but don't tell Ann!”
***
Ninety-one (91) boys teams traveled to Reno to end 2023 at the Sierra Nevada Classic. The teams came from six Western states, many from California.
Oakdale won the team title over Del Oro of Loomis. Elk Grove and Central of Fresno finished in the top five.
Oakdale had five individual champions, Eziequel Vela (126), Gideon Gerber (165), Wes Burford (190), Elias Corona (215), and Emilio Johnson (285).
Del Oro put two atop the podium, Siraj Sidhu (113) and Jagger French (144).
Other individual champions from the Golden State included Isaiah Quintero of El Dorado of Placentia (120), Nicholas Bulanin of Elk Grove at 132, Marcus Caro of Rancho Bernardo (150), and Levi Bussey of Granite Bay (175).
***
Del Oro won the 70-team girls event at Sierra Nevada, with Centennial of Corona and Golden Valley of Merced also placing in the top five.
California girls won all but two brackets, with Kaiya Maggini (114) and Madeline Hilmen (138) winning individual titles for the team champs.
Three other returning state placers, besides Maggini, won their division: Me’Kala James of Central (120), Mikayla Lancaster of Gregori (165), and Rocklin’s Gemma Templeman (235).
***
One week earlier, also in Reno, Poway’s boys captured the Reno Tournament of Champions, the only California team to place in the top five out of 110 participating squads.
Vacaville took sixth and La Costa Canyon finished top 20 in this loaded event, which saw California wrestlers win 10 of the 14 brackets.
Poway had no individual champions, a testament to how loaded the ToC was.
Gilroy and St. John Bosco sent three home each with gold medals.
Defending state champions Isaiah Cortez and Elijah Cortez won for Gilroy, along with Moses Mirabel.
Defending state champion Nicholas Sahakian won for Bosco, as did Grigor Cholakyan and Joseph Antonio.
Hesperia’s Paulo Valdez won at 113, defending state champion Ronnie Ramirez of Walnut took first at 120, Carlos Garcia of Oakdale prevailed at 175 and Vacaville’s Thomas Sandoval was the champion at 190 pounds.
100 % COMMITTED!
In this section, we identify those wrestlers who have made commitments to wrestle in college.
Andrew Barbosa, Sr., Palm Desert, 157 – Rutgers
Abram Cline, Sr., Granite Hills (El Cajon), 125 – Maryland
Grigor Cholakyan, Sr., St. John Bosco, 157 -- Stanford
Diego Costa, Sr., Palm Desert, 184 -- Princeton
Miguel Estrada, Sr., Frontier (Bakersfield), 157 -- Iowa
Jagger French, Sr., Del Oro (Loomis), 149/157 – Cal Poly SLO
Collin Guffey, Sr., Granite Hills (El Cajon), 174 -- Stanford
Paul Kelly, Sr., Poway, 141 – Cal Baptist
Sonny Kling, Sr., Canyon Springs (Moreno Valley), 197 – Cal Baptist
Bryce Luna, Sr. Saint Francis (Mountain View), 133 – Army
Brock Mantanona, Sr., Palm Desert, 149 -- Michigan
Cody Merrill, Sr., Gilroy, 197 – Oklahoma State
Moses Mirabel, Sr., Gilroy, 149 -- Brown
EJ Parco, Sr., Los Gatos, 149 -- Stanford
Laird Root, Sr., Poway, 157 – North Carolina
Isaiah Quintero, Sr., El Dorado (Placentia), 133 -- Purdue
Thomas Sandoval, Sr., Vacaville, 184 -- Brown
Alek VanBebber, Sr., Kingsburg, 149 – Cal Poly SLO
Hercules Windrath, Sr., Fountain Valley, 141/149 – Cal Poly SLO
Commitments to add? Email jtawa@cifstate.org