CIF state wrestling championships: Buchanan to be challenged, plus Fresno-area competitors

Can the Buchanan High boys wrestling team make it eight straight state titles this weekend?

It’ll be a battle if Poway has any say so about it.

The Bears go into the California Interscholastic Federation state championships ranked behind Poway.

The start of the CIF state championships begin Thursday at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield.

Buchanan and Poway met during the season at Fresno City College, won by the Titans. Last season, the Bears won the dual, on their way to state title.

Buchanan is hoping to continue its state title ways, but Bears coach Troy Tirapelle knows it’s going to be a battle.

“It’ll be good for us and good for the fans,” he said. “I think we have a very similar team that’s going to come down to who outwrestles who that weekend. The team makeup is extremely similar with strengths and weaknesses in there.”

Besides Poway, Tirapelle mentions Clovis High is a stronger team, too.

“It makes it more fun for all of them,” he said.

In last season’s championship, Buchanan finished ahead of Poway 244.0-198.5.

Buchanan’s Rocklin Zinkin had a hand in that when he finished second at 106 pounds. He moved up to 113 pounds this season and is second-seed.

If that’s any indication, Buchanan has wrestlers that been on the big state before such as Christopher Huerta who placed third at 113 pounds. He’ll wrestle at 120 pounds as the No. 7 seed.

Others include Joseph Toscano is the top-seed at 144 pounds. He finished second at 126 pounds last season. Gavin Bauder is the No. 3 seed at 138 pounds while Leo Contino is the No. 4 seed at 157 pounds. Branson John at 175 pounds is the third seed, so is Bryce Harrington at 285 pounds.

Clovis’ Anthony Garza is the No. 2 seed at 106 pounds and Nikade Zinkin at 126 pounds; Thunder Lewis (No. 5, 113); Adrian Reyes (No. 3, 165), Joseph Buck (No. 4, 175).

Schedule

Thursday

Girls championships, 9 a.m.

Boys championships, noon

Friday

Consolations, 9 a.m.

Quarterfinals, 1 p.m.

Saturday

Consolations, 9 a.m.

Semifinals, 10:30 a.m.

Championship finals, 6:15 p.m.

Tickets

Thursday (all day): adults at $14, and high school students, children 5+, seniors 65+, $10.

Friday (all day): adults at $14, and high school students, children 5+, seniors 65+, $10.

Saturday (morning and afternoon): adults at $15, and high school students, children 5+, seniors 65+, $10.

Saturday (evening): adults at $15, and high school students, children 5+, seniors 65+ at $11.

Tickets may be purchased the day of the event or in advance at Mechanics Bank Arena Box Office and AXS.

Fresno-area wrestlers competing

Boys

(seeds listed)

106

2. Anthony Garza, Clovis

3. Blake Woodward, Buchanan

12. Alijah Ortiz, Clovis North

16. Aidan Salas, Torres

Xavier Garcia, Clovis West

Xavier Escamilla, Exeter

Andrew Gomez, Porterville

113

2. Rocklin Zinkin, Buchanan

5. Thunder Lewis, Clovis

8. Anthony Castillo, Central

9. Carlos Melgoza, Kingsburg

Quinton Hull, Clovis West

Zachary Kiarcyk, Porterville

Ian Morales, Exeter

Nathan Kaiser, Monache

120

7. CJ Huerta, Buchanan

8. Caleb Rivas, Golden West

12. Simon Cervantes, Clovis

Zeth Cerda, Hoover

Jacob Estrada, Monache

Cairo Plascencia, Central

Kobe Negrete, Redwood

126

2. Nikade Zinkin, Clovis

4. Jeff Lopez, Clovis West

5. Anthony Besmer, Buchanan

Cameron Silber, Madera

132

6. Jacob Perez, Monache

7. Paris Ruiz, Buchanan

9. Leo Maestas, Clovis West

12. Eli Granada, Clovis

13. Leo Macias, Kingsburg

14. Damian Alvarez, Selma

Zavier Cerda, Hoover

138

3. Gavin Bauder, Buchanan

4. Alek VanBebber, Kingsburg

7. Wyatt Lewis, Clovis

David Arroyo, Reedley

Roman Gutierrez, Bullard

Gunner Benedict, Redwood

144

1. Joseph Toscano, Buchanan

4. Max Del Bosquez, Clovis North

Jacob Hernandez, Selma

Angelo Adame, Torres

Izaya Welsh, Porterville

Jesus Loreto, Kingsburg

150

6. Noah Reynolds, Clovis

7. Jaxtyn Frost, Buchanan

Frank Solis, Clovis North

Eli Reyes, Selma

Lewis Saldivar, Bullard

157

4. Leo Contino, Buchanan

Evan Sanchez, Clovis North

Daniel Armendarez, Selma

Samuel Chacon, Clovis

165

3. Adrien Reyes, Clovis

13. Brock Kitchen, Buchanan

Ayden Cortez, Clovis West

175

3. Branson John, Buchanan

4. Joseph Buck, Clovis

11. Jackson Cinfel, Clovis North

Ramon Arredondo, Bullard

Max Austin, Kingsburg

Albert Adams, Clovis East

Saheim Macias, Central

190

9. Sean-Michael Roberts, Buchanan

10. Mark Marin, Clovis

12. Ross Cinfel, Clovis North

Simon Arredondo, Bullard

Dwayne Hemphill, Chowchilla

215

7. Alec Dansby, Buchanan

9. Dominic Wilson, Tulare Union

16. Noah Martinez, Clovis

Andru Balladarez, Edison

Devin Alarcon, Clovis North

Kai Preisendorf, Redwood

285

3. Bryce Harrington, Buchanan

8. Joey Chacon, Clovis West

12. Gary Avila, Bullard

Jordan Gonzales, Clovis

Isaiah Beas, Madera

Jackson Reilly, Clovis North

Alexander Carmona, Golden West

Girls

100

4. Christina Estrada, Buchanan

7. Josei Benitez, Kingsburg

105

5. Megan Morales, Central

6. Kailey Salazar, Selma

Mia McMillen, Sanger West

110

Sierra Alamilla, Monache

8. Khloe Soria, Porterville

Kayliegh Fernandez, Golden West

115

1. Isabella Marie Gonzales, Clovis East

Madison Franco, Clovis North

Jasimen Ortega, Redwood

120

1. Me’Kala James, Central

Riana Bernal, Lemoore

Delilah Maldonado, Porterville

125

Devin Silva, Roosevelt

5. Karma Pugh, Buchanan

130

4. Juliana Alvarez, Selma

Jazrine Nieto, Redwood

135

Kaylynn Brassfield, Monache

7. Braya Cruz, Clovis North

140

6. Jaelyn Unpingoc, Clovis East

145

Marina Hernandez, Selma

Arieana Gutierrez, Tulare Union

Gabriela Flores, Sanger

155

5. Audrey Segura, Redwood

Laila Reyes, Selma

Emily Carvalho, El Diamante

170

1. Leilani Lemus, Clovis

8. Yazmin Belk, Sierra Pacific

190

8. Olivia Ruacho, Garza

235

Noelia Sedano, Garza

Genesee Castro, Tulare Western