Oakdale wrestlers made their presence felt at Vista Del Lago High School in Folsom on Saturday, Feb. 22 as they claimed the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV Championship. The Mustangs, much like they have all season, got out to a quick and dominant start and never looked back in having the most individual champions and nailing down the blue banner.
In the 106-pound weight class, Oakdale’s Logan Eaton drew a bye in the first round, but made short work of Vista Del Lago’s Grant Leon in the second. In the third round he faced El Dorado’s Willy Gadow and got the pin. In the finals Eaton pinned Central Valley’s Ethan Rotondo to capture his championship medal.
Mustang Nico Colunga (113) also drew a bye in the first and made the most of his resting period. Colunga pinned Livingston’s Rainier Colina, who went the distance in his first round victory to win by decision. Colunga followed up with a victory by pin over Central Catholic’s Steven Abbate, and wrapped up his day with a finals decision victory over Tyler Felix of Los Banos.
Oakdale’s run of champions continued as Trevor Williams (120) also claimed finals success with victories over Central Valley’s Michael Manzur, Central Catholic’s Timmy Guttierrez and Lathrop’s Alex Garcia in the finals, winning by a 5-2 verdict.
Max Stevens (126) found his way to finals gold as he defeated Jordan Canseco of Patterson, Jose Sanchez of Livingston and closed out his night by defeating Nick Santibanez of Ceres, 3-2, in the finals to take first place.
The Mustangs did not put a 132-pound wrestler on the mats and at 138, Justin Jacobson had a tough go of it, losing a pair of matches.
Abel Garza (145) made a finals appearance but fell just short, taking second place after a loss to Central Catholic’s Christian Dominguez by a tight 2-1 verdict.
Joey Jacobson got a win by pin in his first match but then was taken down in the second round, wrestling for Oakdale at 152 pounds.
Tanner Reeves (160) got Oakdale back on track as he pulled away from the competition and claimed victories over Kolby McDonald of Liberty Ranch, Galt’s Michael Chantry and wrapped up the finals victory, 8-3, over Vista Del Lago’s Evan Shelley.
Frankie Trent powered his way through the 170-pound class as he claimed victories over Will Somone of Central Catholic, Liberty Ranch’s Jason Medlock, and then finished off Sierra’s Lucas Widmer in the finals with a 5-1 decision.
Christian Johnson went 3-3 in a busy weekend at 182 pounds, finishing sixth.
In the 195-pound division, Mustang Miguel Ibarra battled to second place honors, going 2-1, his only loss in the title match against Tyler Martin of Cosumnes Oaks, a 5-0 decision.
Wyatt Hjelm finished fourth at 220, losing to Nicholas Vermillion of Pacheco but making the top four cut with a 4-2 record to continue on this weekend.
At 285 pounds, Oakdale’s Cedric Vierra finished one place short of Masters qualification, taking fifth place honors with a fall over Joseph Coronado of Pacheco to go 2-2 in the tournament.
Oakdale will send nine to invade the Stockton Arena for the Masters meet on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28 and March 1. The top four in each weight class at the Section qualified for the Masters so that gives Oakdale representation from individual Section champions Logan Eaton, 106; Nico Colunga, 113; Trevor Williams, 120; Max Stevens, 126; Tanner Reeves, 160; and Frankie Trent, 170 in addition to second place finishers Abel Garcia, 145; Miguel Ibarra, 195 and fourth place finisher Wyatt Hjelm, 220.
The top seven in each weight class at Masters qualify for the State Meet.
Leader editor Marg Jackson contributed to this report.
