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Strong performances lead Oakdale to Sierra Nevada wrestling title
oakdale mustang

Oakdale High School wrestlers competed in the Sierra Nevada Classic over the holiday break and claimed first place out of 90 schools. The Mustangs had five first place finishers in the competition. Along with the handful of top honors, Oakdale had two second place finishes, two sixth place finishes and a seventh-place finish.

Eziquel Vela, at 126 pounds, placed first. Vela defeated Rio Segura (Churchill), Zachary Graham (Shasta), Thomas Gonzales (Central) Alex Othon (Tahoma) and edged out Josich Sandoval (Elk Grove) 6-4 in the final.

Gideon Gerber, 165 pounds, earned first place. Gerber went through Caleb Wurtzer (Pleasant Grove), Richard Creer Jr (Sutter), Cache Montgomery (La Pine), Kyson Anderson (Minico), Ridge Kehr (La Grande) and defeated Paxton Twiss (Minico) 7-5 in the finals.

In the 190-pound bracket, the Mustangs had two grapplers entered. Wes Burford and Mathew Cooley each competed and finished first and second, respectively. The two met in the finals and it was Burford winning via fall over Cooley. On his way to the championship, Burford put way Jaydin Chacon (Minico), Max Ruff (Hazen), Ryan Sulpizio (University), Sean Magtoto (Central Catholic) and Tyson Van Gastel (Mazama). Cooley defeated Keshawn Love (Fernley), Tonin Lipska (Roseville), Alec Coffin (Folsom), Preston Sonner-Crann (Minico) and Scott Beadles (Calaveras).

At 215 pounds, Elias Corona placed first overall. Corona defeated Joseph Ellis (Vintage), Max Torres (Fernley) Owen Layfield (Reno), Gavyn Fredrick (Moapa Valley) Vaea Salt (Will C. Wood) and took down Garrett Vail (Minico) by fall in the finals.

Emilio Johnson, 285 pounds, placed first. Wins over Noah Johnson (Calaveras), Logan Jonas (Lowry), Dom Parter (Carson) Cormac Anderson (Spanish Springs) and Hunter Langham (Harrisburg) put Johnson into the finals. In that match, Johnson defeated Kenia Huff (La Grande) 5-2.

Carlos Garcia, 175, placed second. Garcia defeated Rowan Carmack (Beyer), Jonah Bertoli (Cardinal Newman) Dylan Irmen (Rancho Berna) Ivan Tibbet (Sutter) and Spencer Pease (Minico) to reach the finals. However, it was Levi Bussey of Granite Bay earning a 14-3 win over Garcia in the finals.

Jesse Meza, Anthony Martinez and Gavin Gleason each placed in their respective weight brackets for the Mustangs as well.