Boys Wrestling:

Eleven wrestlers from 210 Prep Sports programs persevered through their CIF-SS Masters brackets to earn a spot at next weekend’s CIF State Championships in Bakersfield.

There are six placers in both the Blue and Gold Divisions of the 14 weight classes.

However, only the top five punched their automatic tickets to enter the Mechanics Bank Arena.

Bonita and Northview produced three each, followed by Etiwanda (2), Ayala (1), Rancho Cucamonga (1) and Upland (1).

And there was one Masters champ.

His name is Tristan Fernandez.

Last weekend, Fernandez won his third consecutive CIF-SS CIF Individual title.

On Saturday evening, Fernandez faced one the area’s best in Etiwanda’s Jacob Bell in the 150-pound Gold Division final at Sonora High School.

Bell and Fernandez were locked in a 1-1 tie in overtime, and the Bonita senior got a takedown and then a pin at 6:37.

Prior to Saturday, Fernandez had finished second (junior) and third (sophomore) over the last two years at Masters.

Entering their title bout, the No. 1 seeded Fernandez had two victories via tech fall and a pin.

Bell, the No. 2 seed, secured two victories via pin and one major decision.

“The moment was surreal with a huge crowd and wrestling someone as good as Jacob Bell,” Fernandez said. “And to pull off the victory in overtime was just an amazing moment. It felt really special to be able to wrestle so well and come out on top. I’ve used every tournament as motivation, and especially now with the caliber of the competition getting higher and higher. It gives me a lot of confidence to be able to showcase my skills at state.”

In his first two trips to the CIF State Championships (sophomore & junior seasons), Fernandez hasn’t left Bakersfield with a winning record, so I asked the BHS senior what importance he places on achieving that feat.

Said Tristan Fernandez: “It’s very important to me, and it’s something I’ve been working towards and dreaming about since I was a kid. Now that it’s my last trip, I have to make the most of it, and I look forward to putting my skills to use. I’m definitely looking forward to doing better than I did last year, but my eyes are on the podium.”

Northview’s Elijah Butler finished second at 106 pounds.

Butler narrowly dropped a 15-13 decision to St. John Bosco’s Jorge Rios in the Gold Division final.

Before falling to the No. 1 seed, the Division’s No. 2 seed won three matches via pin, major and tech fall.

Northview’s Michael Vassalle defeated Santa Barbara’s Jonathan Corona, 7-1, in the third-place match of the 190-pound gold bracket.

Elias Flores (Northview) edged Fountain Valley’s Liam Qureshi, 6-5, in the 120-pound Gold Division third-place bout.

Bonita’s Dylan Garcia (138 Blue) and Elias Echeveste (106 Gold), Rancho Cucamonga’s Jayden Espinoza (157 Blue) and Etiwanda’s Carlos Sutton (215 Blue) each won their fifth-sixth match, where the winner goes to Bakersfield and the loser goes home.

Ayala’s Jayren Chan placed fourth in the 113 Gold Division.

Upland 215-pound Keith Warren finished fourth after an injury default to Servite Adam Galindo in the Blue bracket’s third-place match.

The only way the trip to Bakersfield could have been more satisfying for Tristan Fernandez would have been the inclusion of his little brother, Jacob Fernandez.

Jacob Fernandez, a Bonita High School freshman, finished sixth in the 132-pound Blue Division.

Valencia’s Alejandro Navarro defeated Fernandez, 10-4, in the fifth-place match.

Jacob is said to be ahead of where Tristan was as a freshman, so the next three years should be special for that young man.

CIF-SS Masters:

Top 10 Team Scores:
1-St. John Bosco (345)
2-Fountain Valley (251.5)
3-Esperanza (214.5)
4-Sultana (96)
5-Lakeside (93)
6-Temecula Valley (89)
7-Servite (78)
8-Northview (76.5)
9-Newport Harbor (75)
10-Walnut (72.5)

State Qualifiers From 210 Prep Sports Programs:
106 Gold: Elijah Butler (Northview), second place; Elias Echeveste (Bonita), fifth
113 Gold: Jayren Chan (Ayala), fourth
120 Gold: Elias Flores (Northview), third
138 Blue: Dylan Garcia (Bonita), fifth
150 Gold: Tristan Fernandez (Bonita), first; Jacob Bell (Etiwanda), second
157 Blue: Jayden Espinoza of Rancho Cucamonga, fifth
190 Gold: Michael Vasselle of (Northview), third
215 Blue: Keith Warren (Upland), fourth; Carlos Sutton (Etiwanda), fifth

Individual Results:

Blue 106 Pounds:
1st Place – Samuel Sanchez of Esperanza
2nd Place – Benicio Thome of Bishop Amat
3rd Place – Chris Qureshi of Fountain Valley
4th Place – Caden Chan of San Clemente
5th Place – Kelly Brown of West Torrance
6th Place – Cadence Harrell of Mayfair

Final Match:
1st: Samuel Sanchez (Esperanza) def. Benicio Thome (Bishop Amat), 17-0
3rd: Chris Qureshi (Fountain Valley) def. Caden Chan (San Clemente), 6-3
5th: Kelly Brown (West Torrance) pinned Cadence Harrell (Mayfair) at 0:26

Gold 106:
1st Place – Jorge Rios of St. John Bosco
2nd Place – Elijah Butler of Northview
3rd Place – Davis Shaposhnick of Great Oak
4th Place – Rikki Villasenor of Newport Harbor
5th Place – Elias Echeveste of Bonita
6th Place – Madrid Ladines of Lakeside

Final Match:
1st: Jorge Rios (St. John Bosco) def. Elijah Butler (Northview), 15-13
3rd: Davis Shaposhnick (Great Oak) won injury default over Rikki Villasenor (Newport Harbor)
5th: Elias Echeveste (Bonita) def. Madrid Ladines (Lakeside), 5-1

Blue 113:
1st Place – Hunter Jauregui of Fountain Valley
2nd Place – Zack Samano of Chino
3rd Place – Massimo Ortiz of Servite
4th Place – Jackson Humphrey of Sultana
5th Place – Isaac Castaneda of Canyon Springs
6th Place – Samuel Jimenez of Eleanor Roosevelt

Final Match:
1st: Hunter Jauregui (Fountain Valley) def. Zack Samano (Chino), 7-5
3rd: Massimo Ortiz (Servite) def. Jackson Humphrey (Sultana), 7-1
5th: Isaac Castaneda (Canyon Springs) def. Samuel Jimenez (Roosevelt), 19-3

Gold 113:
1st Place – Max Murillo of Esperanza
2nd Place – Aaron Meza of St. John Bosco
3rd Place – Daniel Mendoza of Victor Valley
4th Place – Jayren Chan of Ayala
5th Place – Garen Keshishian of Aliso Niguel
6th Place – Kaiden Lim of Citrus Valley

Final Match:
1st: Max Murillo (Esperanza) def. Aaron Meza (St. John Bosco), 16-2
3rd: Daniel Mendoza (Victor Valley) def. Jayren Chan (Ayala), 13-8
5th: Garen Keshishian (Aliso Niguel) pinned Kaiden Lim (Citrus Valley) at 2:42

Blue 120:
1st Place – Sean Willcox of St. John Bosco
2nd Place – Caden Garriott of South Torrance
3rd Place – Caine Martin of Camarillo
4th Place – Jesse Quiroz of Eleanor Roosevelt
5th Place – Marcello Calavitta of Esperanza
6th Place – Merrick Blackston of Centennial (Corona)

Final Match:
1st: Sean Willcox (St. John Bosco) won via injury default over Caden Garriott (South Torrance)
3rd: Caine Martin (Camarillo) pinned Jesse Quiroz (Roosevelt) at 2:35
5th: Marcello Calavitta (Esperanza) def. Merrick Blackston (Centennial Corona), 13-6

Gold – 120:
1st Place – Paulo Valdez of Hesperia
2nd Place – Christian Garcia of Walnut
3rd Place – Elias Flores of Northview
4th Place – Liam Qureshi of Fountain Valley
5th Place – Elias Casas of Cajon
6th Place – Chase Carrasco of Lakeside

Final Match:
1st: Paulo Valdez (Hesperia) def. Christian Garcia (Walnut), 9-3
3rd: Elias Flores (Northview) def. Liam Qureshi (Fountain Valley), 6-5
5th: Elias Casas (Cajon) def. Chase Carrasco (Lakeside), 5-3

Blue 126:
1st Place – Ronnie Ramirez of Walnut
2nd Place – Rocky Humphrey of Sultana
3rd Place – Kavi Garvey of Dana Hills
4th Place – Jaime Serrato of Highland
5th Place – Joseph Guardado of Esperanza
6th Place – Tyler Mason of La Mirada

Final Match:
1st: Ronnie Ramirez (Walnut) pinned Rocky Humphrey (Sultana) at 2:00
3rd: Kavi Garvey (Dana Hills) won via forfeit over Jaime Serrato (Highland)
5th: Joseph Guardado (Esperanza) def. Tyler Mason (La Mirada), 3-1

Gold 126:
1st Place – Nathan Carrillo of St. John Bosco
2nd Place – Slater Hicks of Valencia/Valencia
3rd Place – Oliver Benninghoff of Trabuco Hills
4th Place – Micah Wegman of Calabasas
5th Place – Isaac Caldera of Eleanor Roosevelt
6th Place – Aden Arista of Lakeside

Final Match:
1st: Nathan Carrillo (St. John Bosco) def. Slater Hicks (Valencia), 2-1
3rd: Oliver Benninghoff (Trabuco Hills) def. Micah Wegman (Calabasas), 16-2
5th: Isaac Caldera (Roosevelt) def. Aden Arista (Lakeside), 10-5

Blue 132:
1st Place – Christopher Arreola of Esperanza
2nd Place – Cael Humphrey of Sultana
3rd Place – Brady Mercer of Fountain Valley
4th Place – Jonathan Madera of Chino
5th Place – Alejandro Navarro of Valencia/Valencia
6th Place – Jacob Fernandez of Bonita

Final Match:
1st: Christopher Arreola (Esperanza) def. Cael Humphrey (Sultana), 15-3
3rd: Brady Mercer (Fountain Valley) def. Jonathan Madera (Chino), 7-0
5th: Alejandro Navarro (Valencia) def. Jacob Fernandez (Bonita), 10-4

Gold 132:
1st Place – Zaydrein Hernandez of St. John Bosco
2nd Place – Isaac Gonzalez of Western
3rd Place – Aaron Silva of Corona Del Mar
4th Place – Azuan Gonzales of Eisenhower
5th Place – Erik Quintero of Lakeside
6th Place – Henry Arellano of Northview

Final Match:
1st: Zaydrein Hernandez (St. John Bosco) def. Isaac Gonzalez (Western), 8-5
3rd: Aaron Silva (Corona Del Mar) def. Azuan Gonzales (Eisenhower), 19-2
5th: Erik Quintero (Lakeside) def. Henry Arellano (Northview), 9-4

Blue 138:
1st Place – Jesse Grajeda of St. John Bosco
2nd Place – Vinnie Gutierrez of Fountain Valley
3rd Place – Emiliano Hernandez of Hesperia
4th Place – Jayden Ho of San Clemente
5th Place – Dylan Garcia of Bonita
6th Place – Edgar Mora of Mayfair

Final Match:
1st: Jesse Grajeda (St. John Bosco) def. Vinnie Gutierrez (Fountain Valley), 10-5
3rd: Emiliano Hernandez (Hesperia) won via injury default over Jayden Ho (San Clemente)
5th: Dylan Garcia (Bonita) def. Edgar Mora (Mayfair), 6-2

Gold 138:
1st Place – James Ruiz of Esperanza
2nd Place – Joshua Requena of Camarillo
3rd Place – Mathius Garza of Eisenhower
4th Place – Nathan Cauwel of Chino
5th Place – Bryce Gonzales of Norco
6th Place – Noah Lopez of Walnut

Final Match:
1st: James Ruiz (Esperanza) def. Joshua Requena (Camarillo), TB-1 6-2
3rd: Mathius Garza (Eisenhower) def. Nathan Cauwel (Chino), 5-3
5th: Bryce Gonzales (Norco) def. Noah Lopez (Walnut), via UTB 6-6

Blue 144:
1st Place – Michael Romero of St. John Bosco
2nd Place – Georgii Guledani of Agoura
3rd Place – Axel Esparza of Lakeside
4th Place – Paul Knapp of Martin Luther King
5th Place – Matthew Centeno of Esperanza
6th Place – Matthew Palacios of Walnut

Final Match:
1st: Michael Romero (St. John Bosco) won via injury default over Georgii Guledani (Agoura)
3rd: Axel Esparza (Lakeside) def. Paul Knapp (Martin Luther King), Dec 4-0
5th: Matthew Centeno (Esperanza) pinned Matthew Palacios (Walnut) at 2:11

Gold 144:
1st Place – Vince Partington of Cypress
2nd Place – Demian Pryima of Newport Harbor
3rd Place – Michael Kase of Chaminade
4th Place – Rocco Godinez of Centennial (Corona)
5th Place – Jimmey Loya of Fountain Valley
6th Place – David Franco of Chino

Final Match:
1st: Vince Partington (Cypress) def. Demian Pryima (Newport Harbor), 4-2
3rd: Michael Kase (Chaminade) def. Rocco Godinez (Centennial Corona), 16-0
5th: Jimmey Loya (Fountain Valley) def. David Franco (Chino), 7-3

Blue 150:
1st Place – Niko Valenzuela of Fountain Valley
2nd Place – Dimetry Molina of Esperanza
3rd Place – Sergio Gomez of St. John Bosco
4th Place – Turner Yanagisawa of Mayfair
5th Place – Isaac Rea of Lakeside
6th Place – Brock Kenney of Trabuco Hills

Final Match:
1st: Niko Valenzuela (Fountain Valley) def. Dimetry Molina (Esperanza), 15-6
3rd: Sergio Gomez (St. John Bosco) def. Turner Yanagisawa (Mayfair), 10-3
5th: Isaac Rea (Lakeside) def. Brock Kenney (Trabuco Hills), 7-0

Gold 150:
1st Place – Tristan Fernandez of Bonita
2nd Place – Jacob Bell of Etiwanda
3rd Place – Chris Anguiano of Millikan
4th Place – Adam Salas of Los Alamitos
5th Place – Zhen McGill of El Toro
6th Place – Alexander Marin of Corona

Final Match:
1st: Tristan Fernandez (Bonita) pinned Jacob Bell (Etiwanda) at 6:37
3rd: Chris Anguiano (Millikan) def. Adam Salas (Los Alamitos), 19-3
5th: Zhen McGill (El Toro) def. Alexander Marin (Corona), SV-1 5-2

Blue 157:
1st Place – Mikel David Uyemura of Fountain Valley
2nd Place – Anthony Peraza of Warren
3rd Place – Jesus Guzman of Lakeside
4th Place – Travion Jones of Chaparral
5th Place – Jayden Espinoza of Rancho Cucamonga
6th Place – Ryan Collins of Sultana

Final Match:
1st: Mikel David Uyemura (Fountain Valley) def. Anthony Peraza (Warren), 11-1
3rd: Jesus Guzman (Lakeside) won via injury default over Travion Jones (Chaparral)
5th: Jayden Espinoza (Rancho Cucamonga) pinned Ryan Collins (Sultana) at 3:47

Gold – 157
1st Place – Tigran Greyan of St. John Bosco
2nd Place – Anthony Manno of Newport Harbor
3rd Place – Bradley Espinoza of Brea Olinda
4th Place – Damen Vollmer of Temecula Valley
5th Place – Josiah Tessandore of La Quinta/LQ
6th Place – Maddox Herrera of Esperanza

Final Match:
1st: Tigran Greyan (St. John Bosco) def. Anthony Manno (Newport Harbor), 13-1
3rd: Bradley Espinoza (Brea Olinda) won via injury default over Damen Vollmer (Temecula Valley)
5th: Josiah Tessandore (La Quinta) pinned Maddox Herrera (Esperanza) at 4:06

Blue 165:
1st Place – Joseph Antonio of St. John Bosco
2nd Place – Kelan Stever of San Clemente
3rd Place – Christian Carchi of Simi Valley
4th Place – Isaiah Rea of Lakeside
5th Place – Seth Parry of Newport Harbor
6th Place – Shane Linehan of Santa Margarita

Final Match:
1st: Joseph Antonio (St. John Bosco) def. Kelan Stever (San Clemente), 18-0
3rd: Christian Carchi (Simi Valley) def. Isaiah Rea (Lakeside), 11-1
5th: Seth Parry (Newport Harbor) def. Shane Linehan (Santa Margarita), 7-4

Gold 165:
1st Place – Christian Stoeber of Fountain Valley
2nd Place – Cross Rodriguez of Calvary Chapel/SA
3rd Place – James Holiday of Esperanza
4th Place – Max Stevenson of Hesperia
5th Place – Emmanuel Sandoval of Camarillo
6th Place – Travis Coleman of Paloma Valley

Final Match:
1st: Christian Stoeber (Fountain Valley) def. Cross Rodriguez (Calvary Chapel/SA), 7-3
3rd: James Holiday (Esperanza) def. Max Stevenson (Hesperia), SV-1 4-1
5th: Emmanuel Sandoval (Camarillo) pinned Travis Coleman (Paloma Valley) at 4:55

Blue 175:
1st Place – Isai Fernandez of St. John Bosco
2nd Place – Ashton Lassig of Temecula Valley
3rd Place – Jude Holiday of Esperanza
4th Place – Landon Hernandez of Santiago (Corona)
5th Place – Nathaniel Dominguez of Pacifica/Oxnard
6th Place – Ryan Barrios of Citrus Valley

Final Match:
1st: Isai Fernandez (St. John Bosco) def. Ashton Lassig (Temecula Valley), 16-3
3rd: Jude Holiday (Esperanza) def. Landon Hernandez (Santiago Corona), 16-5
5th: Nathaniel Dominguez (Pacifica/Oxnard) def. Ryan Barrios (Citrus Valley), 6-4

Gold 175:
1st Place – Kash Talauega of Villa Park
2nd Place – Javon Major of Paloma Valley
3rd Place – Matin Ghanavat of Capistrano Valley
4th Place – Jaxen Cardenas of Norco
5th Place – Efosa Osayande of Peninsula
6th Place – Lorenzo Maddox of Woodbridge

Final Match:
1st: Kash Talauega (Villa Park) def. Javon Major (Paloma Valley), SV-1 7-4
3rd: Matin Ghanavat (Capistrano Valley) won via injury default over Jaxen Cardenas (Norco)
5th: Efosa Osayande (Peninsula) def. Lorenzo Maddox (Woodbridge), 20-5

Blue 190:
1st Place – Primo Catalano of Fountain Valley
2nd Place – Danny Frailey of Trabuco Hills
3rd Place – Brett Williamson of Moorpark
4th Place – Thiago Pereira of San Clemente
5th Place – Jeremiah Pimental of Coachella Valley
6th Place – Asa Goff of Newport Harbor

Final Match:
1st: Primo Catalano (Fountain Valley) def. Danny Frailey (Trabuco Hills), 19-6
3rd: Brett Williamson (Moorpark) won via injury default over Thiago Pereira (San Clemente)
5th: Jeremiah Pimental (Coachella Valley) def. Asa Goff (Newport Harbor), SV-1 3-0

Gold 190:
1st Place – Gabriel Barragan of West Valley
2nd Place – Mason Savidan of St. John Bosco
3rd Place – Michael Vasselle of Northview
4th Place – Jonathan Corona of Santa Barbara
5th Place – Henry McHargue of Yucaipa
6th Place – Eugenio Escalona Henderson of La Mirada

Final Match:
1st: Gabriel Barragan (West Valley) def. Mason Savidan (St. John Bosco), 8-4
3rd: Michael Vasselle (Northview) def. Jonathan Corona (Santa Barbara), 7-1
5th: Henry McHargue (Yucaipa) def. Eugenio Escalona Henderson (La Mirada), 16-2

Blue 215:
1st Place – Kayden Cartee of Mayfair
2nd Place – Noah Watkins of Temecula Valley
3rd Place – Adam Galindo of Servite
4th Place – Keith Warren of Upland
5th Place – Carlos Sutton of Etiwanda
6th Place – Nathan Hutton of West Valley

Final Match:
1st: Kayden Cartee (Mayfair) pinned Noah Watkins (Temecula Valley) at 2:23
3rd: Adam Galindo (Servite) won via injury default over Keith Warren (Upland)
5th: Carlos Sutton (Etiwanda) pinned Nathan Hutton (West Valley) (Fall 1:55)

Gold 215:
1st Place – Khale McDonnell of Fountain Valley
2nd Place – Kevin Rodriguez of St. John Bosco
3rd Place – Jacob Macias of Oak Hills
4th Place – Tannor Costello of Millikan
5th Place – Edwin Hopkins of Westminster
6th Place – Fernando Toscano of Santa Fe

Final Match:
1st: Khale McDonnell (Fountain Valley) def. Kevin Rodriguez (St. John Bosco), 22-6
3rd: Jacob Macias (Oak Hills) pinned Tannor Costello (Millikan) at 4:23
5th: Edwin Hopkins (Westminster) def. Fernando Toscano (Santa Fe), 14-9

Blue 285:
1st Place – Coby Merrill of JW North
2nd Place – Xander Firm of Sultana
3rd Place – Colin Chan of El Dorado
4th Place – Malohi Sipowicz of Hemet
5th Place – Jayden Baer of Quartz Hill
6th Place – Noah Huss of Moorpark

Final Match:
1st: Coby Merrill (JW North) pinned Xander Firm (Sultana) at 0:49
3rd: Colin Chan (El Dorado) def. Malohi Sipowicz (Hemet), 11-5
5th: Jayden Baer (Quartz Hill) pinned Noah Huss (Moorpark) at 2:21

Gold 285:
1st Place – Brandon Bass of Servite
2nd Place – Justice El Sayad of Temecula Valley
3rd Place – Leonardo Battulga of South Torrance
4th Place – Zander West of Victor Valley
5th Place – Milton Carter of St. John Bosco
6th Place – Ezekiel Lucero of Northview

Final Match:
1st: Brandon Bass (Servite) won via injury default over Justice El Sayad (Temecula Valley)
3rd: Leonardo Battulga (South Torrance) def. Zander West (Victor Valley), 16-1
5th: Milton Carter (St. John Bosco) won via injury default over Ezekiel Lucero (Northview)