Locals come up big at Masters Wrestling meet; Lakewood's Adams-Gregory places at girls State meet

ONTARIO >> Big outings from St. John Bosco and Mayfair and a solid showing from a number of other local wrestlers at the CIF Southe Section Masters Meet at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Saturday ensured that the Long Beach area will be well-represented during next week State Championships.

Bosco junior Day Salas captured the Masters title at 195 pounds with a second period pin of Santa Ana’s Joey Daniel in the final and was named the touament’s upperweight MVP after totaling five wins (four falls, one default) over the course of the two-day event.

“I feel great, I wrestled a great touament,” Salas said. “I just got my mind right before CIF [section individuals] and it’s just been going on.”

Salas’ teammates Christian Nunez (106 pounds, 2nd place), Jacob Bueno (160, 9th) and David Aranda (285, 7th) also placed and will advance to the State meet as the top 9 in each weight class qualify.

“I’m excited, the boys wrestled well,” Bosco head coach Omar Delgado said. “I’m proud of these kids and hopefully next weekend we have a great touament and have four state placers.”

Jonathan Prada (Downey, 3rd), Matt Saldana (Millikan, 7th) and Jose Alvarez (Mayfair, 8th) will all advance at 106, as will Nick Camacho (Paramount, 126, 8th), Justin Pichedwatana (Mayfair, 160, 3rd), and Andrew Ramos (Mayfair, 195, 7th) to bring the area total to 10 competitors. Three Monsoons making it to the State level marks the most in program history.

Pichedwatana’s marquee victory came in the final when he controlled the bout most of the way and came out with a 6-2 win over MLK’s Austin Wilson, who is ranked fifth in the state at 160.

“I’m happy, actually I’m ecstatic,” Mayfair head coach Ibee Atalla said. “The kids put in the work and that’s why we’re at where we’re at. Our goal is to go to State and we reached that.”

Lakewood’s Alex Michel just missed the cut at 170 after a 5-3 overtime defeat at the hands of Chaparral’s Garrett Strang in the 9th place bout.

Richie Casillas (120) of Northview took home lowerweight MVP honors, while Calvary Chapel (Santa Ana) and Northview placed first and second in team points.

The State Championships are set for Friday and Saturday at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.

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For his wrestlers to remain prepared amidst the constant touaments, training and travel that come with this portion of the season, Atalla said the physical aspects of the sport actually take the back seat.

“Wrestling is a mental preparation sport,” he said. “People think it’s really physical, it’s mental. We’ve got great coaches, great support and the great kids. We can go around the county, it doesn’t matter. It’s mental preparation. That’s how we get through.”

Girls wrestling

A number of local athletes qualified for the State Championship Touament in Visalia, but only one made her way to the podium in Lakewood freshman Sierra Adams-Gregory, who finished sixth.

“Sierra had a fantastic year,” Lakewood head coach Matt Brearly said. “As a freshman and first year wrestler, she has made huge strides. She works hard inside and outside of the room. I couldn’t be anymore proud of her.”

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