Photo by Wilson Baldelomar
Wrestling:
San Dimas’ Michael Baeza was one of two finalists and the lone CIF-SS Masters champion among 210 Prep Sports wrestlers.
Baeza secured the 215-pound Blue Division championship to punch his ticket to next week’s CIF State Championships in Bakersfield.
And the Saints junior did so in dominant form.
Baeza pinned all four of his opponents at Sonora High School on Friday.
He started with a stick of Paloma Valley’s Nathaniel Flores at 1:03.
Baeza pinned Montclair’s Sean Flores in 69 seconds, and he finished off Westminster’s Edwin Hopkins at 1:06 in the quarterfinal and semifinal round matches, respectively.
In the 215-pound title bout, Baeza followed his CIF-SS title one week ago with an individual Masters championship by pinning St. John Bosco’s Kaden Curry at 4:14.
Northview’s Elijah Butler was the 113-pound Gold Division runner up.
Butler pinned Lakeside’s Jake Agolia (Lakeside) at 3:00 in the first round.
In the quarterfinal, Butler earned a comfortable 16-4 victory over Ayala’s Jayren Chan.
He earned a spot in the finals thanks to a 1-0 victory over Fountain Valley’s Chris Quershi.
Servite’s Uriah Correa defeated Butler in the 113-pound title bout.
Damien’s Nathan Solorio went 3-1, and he finished one spot behind Butler in the gold bracket.
In the first round, Solorio dominated Fontana’s Josue Quintero, 21-0.
Solorio pinned South Torrance’s Zairone Cabrera at 1:40.
Servite’s Uriah Correa edged Solorio, 6-5, in a semifinal showdown of the No. 4 and No. 1 seeds, respectively.
But Solorio rebounded quickly with a 3-1 victory over Fountain Valley’s Chris Qureshi in the third-fourth place match.
He’ll head to state with a season record of 46-2.
A pair of South Hills’ wrestlers, Kayden Vasquez and Rex Topete, made history by earning the program’s first state appearances in 10 years.
Kayden Vasquez went 4-2 in the 126-pound gold bracket.
He pinned Chaparral’s Hunter Besneatte in 41 seconds to start his day.
After a second-round loss, Vasquez edged Walnut’s Zander Rogers, 9-8.
Vasquez defeated Palm Desert’s Salvador Bautista, 4-2, and then he dropped a 13-6 decision to Servite’s Massimo Ortiz.
In a win-or-go-home scenario, Vasquez pinned Temecula Valley’s Tyler Vanbebber in 53 seconds to earn his spot inside the Dignity Health Arena.
Northview’s Elias Flores earned his spot at state by going 3-2 in the 126-pound blue bracket.
He opened with a 13-0 victory over Chaminade’s Zeth Abalos.
After an 11-7 setback to Roosevelt’s Jesse Quiroz, Flores pinned Hesperia’s Landon Arguelles at 4:14.
South Torrance’s Caden Garriott edged Flores, 5-4, but the Vikings’ standout defeated Murrieta Mesa’s Leonardo Cabrera-Nava, 4-0, in the fifth-sixth-place match.
Northview’s Henry Arellano placed fifth in the 132-pound blue division bracket.
Arellano went 4-2, and both losses came at the hands of Downey’s Jayden Plata.
His four wins included the following:
Arellano pinned Pacifica’s Jacob Lopez at 0:46, and then he secured 10-2 and 8-0 victories over Servite’s Robert Garcia and Corona’s Aidan Mueller, respectively.
Arellano was awarded a win via forfeit over Anaheim’s Bryan Villatoro in the fifth-sixth place match.
Bonita’s Jacob Fernandez punched his first trip to Bakersfield after a 4-1 showing in the 144-pound Blue Division.
Fernandez’s lone loss was a 20-4 setback to No. 1 seeded Jesse Grajeda of St. John Bosco.
The BHS sophomore defeated Etiwanda’s Luke Jelus twice, including 11-5 and 17-1 victories in his first and fourth matches.
In the third-fourth place bout, Fernandez edged Chino’s Nathan Cauwel, 7-4.
South Hills’ Rex Topete earned his spot at the three-day event by going 4-2.
He opened with a 4-2 victory over Roosevelt’s Marcus Trejo.
After a 5-3 setback to Fountain Valley’s Brayden Carson, Topete defeated Mason Sauls (Chaparral), and he pinned Gavin Vargas (Canyon Springs) at 1:49.
Topete rebounded from a 7-5 loss to Centennial’s Keshaun White by sticking Calabasas’ Arel Francke at 1:55 in the fifth-sixth place match.
Etiwanda’s Carlos Sutton went 4-1 in the 285-Pound Gold Division to place third.
The Eagles heavyweight pinned Dayne Dalmas (Yorba Linda) at 3:13, and he needed just 1:26 to stick Alta Loma’s Nathan Solano in the second round.
Sutton’s lone loss came via pinfall by Zander West of Victor Valley.
He closed out the day with a pin of Pete Knight’s Yamil Flores at 1:36, and he was awarded a victory via default by Rancho Cucamonga’s Brayden Kilgore.
RCHS’ Brayden Kilgore went 3-2 in the heavyweight bracket.
And that was good for fourth place and a trip to Bakersfield.
Kilgore defeated Temecula Valley’s Jaeden Rodriguez, 3-2, in the first round, and he pinned Warren’s Luiz Zamora at 1:42 in his second bout.
Centennial’s Angel Rodriguez edged Kilgore, 4-1, in the semifinal.
But he bounced back with a 4-1 victory over South Torrance’s Robert Crowe.
The top five placers in both brackets from the 14 weight classes earned a ticket to Bakersfield.
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First-Sixth Place Matches:
106 Pounds (Blue):
1st place match: -Luke Loren (St. John Bosco) pinned Madrid Ladines (Lakeside) at 3:05
3rd: Julian Bigueur (Chaparral) def. Elijah Ramirez (Mission Viejo), 9-2
5th: Keven Martinez (Western) pinned Luke Montaro (La Mirada) at 4:02
106 Gold:
1st: Giovani Suarez (Esperanza) def. Ivan Angulo (Coachella Valley) via medical forfeit
3rd: Mark Ramirez (Palm Desert) def. Daniel Barajas (Downey), 7-0
5th: Trevor Lambert (Temecula Valley) def. Daniel Zamora (Grand Terrance), 12-2
113 Blue:
1st: Max Murillo (Esperanza) def. Alex Espinoza (Palm Desert, 15-2
3rd: Daniel Mendoza (Victor Valley) pinned Rikki Villasenor (Newport Harbor) at 3:53
5th: Andrew Reyes (Pacifica) def. Ethan Duenas (La Serna), 7-3
113 Gold:
1st: Uriah Correa (Servite) def. Elijah Butler (Northview), 13-7
3rd: Nathan Solorio (Damien) def Chris Qureshi (Fountain Valley), 3-1
5th: Kaiden Lepe (Walnut) def. Jordan Duszynski (Orange Lutheran), 9-4
120 Blue:
1st: Samuel Sanchez (Esperanza) def. Zachary Samano (Chino), 9-0
3rd: Tony Montero (La Mirada) def. Benicio Thome (Bishop Amat), 4-1
5th: Raymond Carbajal (Santa Fe) def. Hawk Alvarez (Mayfair), 7-4
120 Gold:
1st: Hunter Jauregui (Fountain Valley) def. Nathan Reynolds (St. John Bosco), 8-4
3rd: Knox Espinoza (LB Poly) def. Josiah Leyvas (La Serna), 7-1
5th: Maddox Hazzard (Sultana) def. James Fukuchi (Cerritos), 13-6
126 Blue:
1st: Sean Willcox (St. John Bosco) def. Issac Torres (Fountain Valley), 10-4
3rd: Caden Garriott (South Torrance) def. Jesse Quiroz (Roosevelt), 4-2
5th: Elias Flores (Northview) def. Leonardo Cabrera-Nava (Murrieta Mesa), 4-0
126 Gold:
1st: Aaron Meza (Esperanza) def. Aaron Silva (Corona del Mar), 5-4
3rd: Massimo Ortiz (Servite) def. Jackson Humphrey (Sultana), 3-1
5th: Kayden Vasquez (South Hills) pinned Tyler Vanbebber (Temecula Valley) at 0:53
132 Blue:
1st: Slater Hicks (Valencia) def. Marco Costa (Redlands East Valley), 11-2
3rd: Joseph Guardado (Esperanza) def. Jayden Plata (Downey), 11-2
5th: Henry Arellano (Northview) def. Bryan Villatoro (Anaheim) by forfeit
132 Gold:
1st: Nathan Carrillo (St. John Bosco) def. Cael Humphrey (Sultana), 16-1
3rd: Jonathan Madera (Chino) def. Anthony Saldana (Paloma Valley) via forfeit
5th: Liam Queshi (Fountain Valley) pinned Ace Gibson (Simi Valley) at 3:39
138 Blue:
1st: Vinnie Gutierrez (Fountain Valley) def. Julian Espinoza (Cerritos), 18-3
3rd: Lincoln Chung (LB Poly) pinned Marcello Calavitia (Esperanza) at 0:36
5th: Joseph Ramirez (El Modena) pinned Jacob Solano (Etiwanda) at 4:41
138 Gold:
1st: Zaydrein Hernandez (St. John Bosco) def. Joriah Guerra (Montclair), 18-6
3rd: Micah Wegman (Calabasas) def. Oliver Benninghoff (Trabuco Hills), 13-2
5th: Cameron James (Centennial) def. Elon Jackson (Hesperia), 15-12
144 Blue:
1st: Jesse Grajeda (St. John Bosco) def. Rocco Godinez (Centennial), 18-3
3rd: Jacob Fernandez (Bonita) def. Nathan Cauwel (Chino), 7-4
5th: Greg Ruiz (Sonora) def. Luke Jelus (Etiwanda), 13-10
144 Gold:
1st: Kavi Garvey (Fountain Valley) def. James Ruiz (Esperanza), 7-2
3rd: Kyle Da Nobrega (South Torrance) def. Sebastian Rodriguez (Palm Desert) by forfeit
5th: Xander Fronhofer (Nordhoff) def. Jacob Dalton (Heritage), 10-0
150 Blue:
1st: Michael Romero (St. John Bosco) def. Mikel David Uyemora (Fountain Valley), 17-2
3rd: Jayden De La Rosa (Burbank) def. Damen Vollmer (Temecula Valley), 9-2
5th: Jesse Jimenez (Centennial) def. Brandon Owen (Paloma Valley), 4-1
150 Gold:
1st: Joshua Requena (Camarillo) def. Michael Kase (Chaminade), 13-0
3rd: Emiliano Hernandez (Hesperia) def. Matthew Centeno (Esperanza), 8-3
5th: Thomas Alvarez (Mayfair) def. Chase McKay (Laguna Hills), 4-2
157 Blue:
1st: Chris Anguiano (Millikan) def. Mason McDonnell (Fountain Valley), 17-6
3rd: Adam Salas (Los Alamitos) def. Josiah Ressandore (Shadow Hills) by defeault
5th: Jonathan Ugarte (Hesperia) pinned Micah Freimuth (Redlands) at 2:56
157 Gold:
1st: Dimetry Molina (Esperanza) def. Sergio Gomez (St. John Bosco), 15-4
3rd: Peter Brown (Canyon Springs) def. Brock Kenney (Trabuco Hills), 4-1
5th: Brandon Velasquez (Dos Pueblos) def. Alek Carrera (LB Poly), 14-9
165 Blue:
1st: Tigran Greyan (Valencia) def. Christian Stoeber (Fountain Valley), 6-3
3rd: James Holiday (Esperanza) def. Leon Murphy (Santiago), 17-0
5th: Adrian Harris (Highland) def. Tomas Fulgentes (Royal) by forfeit
165 Gold:
1st: Jesus Guzman (Lakeside) def. Cross Rodriguez (Calvary Chapel), 7-0
3rd: Luc Sorenson (Yucaipa) pinned Bradley Espinoza (Brea Olinda) at 4:34
5th: Ehren Thompson (Chaparral) def. Jonsea Garcia (Roosevelt), 11-6
175 Blue:
1st: Isai Fernandez (St. John Bosco) def. Jude Holiday (Esperanza), 19-3
3rd: Brayden Carson (Fountain Valley) def. Keshaun White (Centennial), 7-2
5th: Rex Topete (South Hills) pinned Arel Francke (Calabasas) at 1:55
175 Gold:
1st: Ashton Lassig (Temecula Valley) pinned Efosa Osayande (Peninsula) at 3:18
3rd: Kelen Stever (San Clemente) pinned Max Stevenson (Hesperia) at 2:32
5th: Finnian Hannegan (JSerra) pinned Lorenzo Maddox (Woodbridge) at 1:42
190 Blue:
1st: Mason Savidan (St. John Bosco) pinned Demetri Clark (Temecula Valley) at 1:15
3rd: Dylan Natceli (Chaparral) def. Brady Williams (Walnut), 5-4
5th: Logan Ulmer (Santiago) def. Jacob Sanchez (La Quinta), 3-0
190 Gold:
1st: Gabriel Barragan (Esperanza) pinned Jaxen Cooke (Norco) at 0:48
3rd: Michael Martinez (Carter) def. William Schindele (El Toro) by default
5th: Julio Leija (Trabuco Hills) pinned Emmanuel Sandoval (Camarillo) at 4:22
215 Blue:
1st: Michael Baeza (San Dimas) pinned Kaden Curry (St. John Bosco) at 4:14
3rd: Griff Lawson (El Dorado) pinned Levi Means (Yucaipa) at 2:17
5th: Dustin Han (Orange Lutheran) def. Edwin Hopkins (Westminster) by default
215 Gold:
1st: Jaxon Smith (Chaparral) def. Kaden Cryer (Moreno Valley), 3-2
3rd: Matthew Casas (Beaumont) def. Rocky Windrath (Fountain Valley), 7-2
5th: Xavier Brooks (Laguna Beach) pinned Hudson Sweitzer (Trinity Classical) at 1:38
285 Blue:
1st: Cody Merrill (JW North) def. Noah Huss (Moorpark) by default
3rd: Milton Carter (St. John Bosco) def. Andrew De La Torre (Moreno Valley), 4-2
5th: Jeremy Harris (Woodbridge) def. Thomas Banuelos (Sonora), 10-3
285 Gold:
1st: Angel Rodriguez (Centennial) def. Zander West (Victor Valley), 7-2
3rd: Carlos Sutton (Etiwanda) def. Brayden Kilgore (RCHS) by forfeit
5th: Robert Crowe (South Torrance) def. Yamil Flores (Pasa Knight), 5-2
State Qualifiers From 210 Prep Sports Programs:
113: Elijah Butler, Northview (second)
113: Nathan Solorio, Damien (third)
126: Kayden Vasquez, South Hills (fifth)
126: Elias Flores, Northview (fifth)
132: Henry Arellano, Northview (fifth)
144: Jacob Fernandez, Bonita (third)
175: Rex Topete, South Hills (fifth)
215: Michael Baeza, San Dimas (champion)
285: Carlos Sutton, Etiwanda (third)
285: Brayden Kilgore, Rancho Cucamonga (fourth)
Elijah Butler’s 113-Pound Gold Division Results:
First Round: Butler pinned Jake Agolia (Lakeside) at 3:00
Quarterfinal: Butler def. Jayren Chan (Ayala), 16-4
Semifinal: Butler def. Chris Quershi (Fountain Valley), 1-0
Final: Uriah Correa (Servite) def. Butler, 13-7
Nathan Solorio’s 113-Pound Gold Division Results:
First Round: Solorio def. Josue Quintero (Fontana), 21-0
Quarterfinal: Solorio pinned Zairone Cabrera (South Torrance) at 1:40
Semifinal: Uriah Correa (Servite) def. Solorio, 6-5
Third-Fourth Place Match: Solorio def. Chris Qureshi (Fountain Valley), 3-1
Kayden Vasquez’s 126-Pound Gold Division Results:
First Round: Vasquez pinned Hunter Besneatte (Chaparral) at 0:41
Second: Jackson Humphrey (Sultana) def. Vasquez, 11-0
Third: Vasquez def. Zander Rogers (Walnut), 9-8
Fourth: Vasquez def. Salvador Bautista (Palm Desert), 4-2
Fifth: Massimo Ortiz (Servite) def. Vasquez, 13-6
Fifth-Sixth Place Match: Vasquez pinned Tyler Vanbebber (Temecula Valley) at 0:53
Elias Flores’ 126-Pound Blue Division Results:
First: Flores def. Zeth Abalos (Chaminade), 13-0
Second: Jesse Quiroz (Roosevelt) def. Flores, 11-7
Third: Flores pinned Landon Arguelles (Hesperia) at 4:14
Fourth: Caden Garriott (South Torrance) def. Flores, 5-4
Fifth-Sixth Place Match: Flores def. Leonardo Cabrera-Nava (Murrieta Mesa), 4-0
Henry Arellano’s 132-Pound Blue Division Results:
First: Jayden Plata (Downey) def. Arellano, 10-2
Second: Arellano pinned Jacob Lopez (Pacifica) at 0:46
Third: Arellano def. Robert Garcia (Servite), 10-2
Fourth: Arellano def. Aidan Mueller (Corona), 8-0
Fifth: Plata pinned Arellano at 4:03
Fifth-Sixth Place Match: Arellano (Northview) def. Bryan Villatoro (Anaheim) by forfeit
Jacob Fernandez’s 144-Pound Blue Division Results:
First: Fernandez def. Luke Jelus (Etiwanda), 11-5
Second: Fernandez def. Daniel Baeza (San Dimas), 5-1
Third: Jesse Grajeda (St. John Bosco) def. Fernandez, 20-4
Fourth: Fernandez def. Jelus, 17-1
Third-Fourth Place Match: Fernandez def. Nathan Cauwel (Chino), 7-4
Rex Topete’s 175-Pound Blue Division Results:
First: Topete def. Marcus Trejo (Roosevelt), 4-2
Second: Brayden Carson (Fountain Valley) def. Topete, 5-3
Third: Topete def. Mason Sauls (Chaparral), 7-2
Fourth: Topete pinned Gavin Vargas (Canyon Springs) at 1:49
Fifth: Keshaun White (Centennial) def. Topete, 7-5
Fifth-Sixth Place Match: Topete pinned Arel Francke (Calabasas) at 1:55
Michael Baeza’s Path to a CIF-SS Masters 215-Pound Blue Division Title:
First: Baeza pinned Nathaniel Flores (Paloma Valley) at 1:03
Quarterfinal: Baeza pinned Sean Flores (Montclair) at 1:09
Semifinal: Baeza pinned Edwin Hopkins (Westminster) at 1:06
Final: Baeza pinned Kaden Curry (St. John Bosco) at 4:14
Carlos Sutton’s 285-Pound Gold Division Results:
First: Sutton pinned Dayne Dalmas (Yorba Linda) at 3:13
Second: Sutton pinned Nathan Solano (Alta Loma) at 1:26
Third: Zander West (Victor Valley) pinned Sutton at 3:21
Fourth: Sutton pinned Yamil Flores (Pete Knight) at 1:36
Third-Fourth Place Match: Sutton def. Brayden Kilgore (RCHS) by default
Brayden Kilgore’s 285-Pound Gold Division Results:
First: Kilgore def. Jaeden Rodriguez (Temecula Valley), 3-2
Second: Kilgore pinned Luiz Zamora (Warren) at 1:42
Third: Angel Rodriguez (Centennial) def. Kilgore, 4-2
Fourth: Kilgore def. Robert Crowe (South Torrance), 4-1
Third-Fourth Place Match: Sutton (Etiwanda) def. Brayden Kilgore (RCHS) by default