By Kevin Askeland
MaxPreps.com
The Clovis Cougars’ motto for the season has been “Eight in ‘08”, referring to a potential state record eighth state title the Central Section powerhouse could win this year.
However the Cougars’ chances of winning that magical eighth title took a big hit Friday when 142-pound title hopeful Scott Sakaguchi lost his first two matches and was eliminated from the tournament.
However despite the disappointment of losing as much as 20 points in the team standings with the loss of Sakaguchi, there were the Cougars at the end of the day, sitting atop the point standings with a four-and-a-half point lead over Poway, 82.5 to 78.
Clovis was able to grab the first-day lead on the final round thanks to a couple of head-to-head battles with Poway in the quarterfinals and the resilience of a pair of lightweight wrestlers.
Stephen Weimer got a key win over Henry Yorba of Poway in the 132-pound quarterfinal. Weimer held a 5-3 lead late in the third period, but Yorba got a takedown in the final seconds to force overtime. However Weimer got the takedown at the edge of the mat for the 7-5 overtime win.
Jonathan Zamora also won his head-to-head matchup with a Poway wrestler as he met Sammy Cervantes in the 287-pound weight class. Zamora, who is ranked No. 2 in the state and has lost just once all season, grabbed the early lead and held on for the 5-3 win.
While Weimer and Zamora were getting the job done in the championship bracket, Clovis lightweights Madison Gambrell and Clinton McAlester were racking up points in the consolation bracket.
Gambrell lost his opener to 105-pounder Bryan Grubbs of La Costa Canyon, 7-0, but came back to win four matches in a row, including a pair of major wins, to add six points to the Clovis team point total. McAlester was doing the same at 114 pounds. He lost to Jesse Delgado of Gilroy, but won his next four matches and added five bonus points with a pin and three major decisions.
The Cougars have eight wrestlers still alive, as does Poway. However Clovis has three wrestlers in the semifinals, with 217-pounder Brett Sanchez joining Weimer and Zamora, while Poway has just one, 171-pounder Ian Daube. The Titans have six wrestlers who will open Saturday morning’s competition needing to win one match in order to place in the top eight. Clovis has four in the consolation quarterfinals.
A team lurking in the wings waiting to possibly bump off both Clovis and Poway is Central Catholic. The Raiders are in fifth place with 64 points, but they have four in the semifinals in TJ Belton at 154 pounds, Steve Vasquez at 162 pounds, Dominic Galas at heavyweight and two-time state champion Louis Bland at 191 pounds.
Defending state champion Vacaville stands in seventh place with five wrestlers still active. The Bulldogs won the state finals last year with five placewinners and they have three competing in the semifinals, including No. 1 ranked Kody Klaus at 127 pounds.
Gilroy is in third place with 70 points and also had three wrestlers in the semifinals, but has just one other wrestler in the consolation bracket. Surprising Selma is in fourth place after spending most of the day in third behind Clovis and Poway. Selma has two in the semifinals and three in the consolation bracket.
Southern Section masters champion Temecula Valley has two semifinalists and two consolation quarterfinalists.
Following are today’s semifinalists:
105 pounds
Zach Zimmer, Clovis West vs. Bryan Grubbs, La Costa Canyon
Gilberto Camacho, Washington Union vs. Edgar Diaz, Arvin
114 pounds
Steven Salinas, Northview, vs. Markjay Acosta, San Leandro
Jesse Delgado, Gilroy vs. David Klingsheim, Liberty
121 pounds
Thomas Williams, South Hills vs. Brandon Rocha, Lemoore
Marcus Orona, Santa Fe vs. Martin Gonzalez, Gilroy
127 pounds
Kody Klaus, Vacaville vs. Nick Pena, Selma
Steven Fitzgerald, Clovis East vs. Angel Garcia, San Dimas
132 pounds
Jose Mendoza, Selma vs. Stephen Weimer, Clovis
Justin Arredondo, Buchanan vs. Scott Chene, Irvine
137 pounds
Kyle West, Oak Ridge vs. Eric Lopez, Hesperia
Vinny Pisani, El Modena vs. Nick Fisher, Clovis West
142 pounds
Trent Stevenson, Arcata vs. Vlad Dombroski, Natomas
Daniel Kwittken, Torrey Pines vs. David Watts, El Diamante
147 pounds
Travis Rasmussen, Bakersfield vs. Taylor Hodel, Vacaville
Andrew Balch, Buchanan vs. Jesse Cruz, Northview
154 pounds
Michael Kent, Vacaville vs. Anthony Meza, Vista
TJ Belton, Central Catholic vs. James Cook, Clovis West
162 pounds
Steven Vasquez, Central Catholic vs. Morgan McIntosh, Calvary Chapel Santa Ana
Patrick Martinez, Temecula Valley vs. Jason Welch, Las Lomas
173 pounds
Tito Pica, De La Salle vs. Jake Meredith, Temecula Valley
Ian Daube, Poway vs. Hunter Collins, Gilroy
191 pounds
Louis Bland, Central Catholic vs. Taylor Warden, Calvary Chapel Santa Ana
Phil Brandt, Bullard vs. Caleb Gerl, Calvary Chapel Downey
217 pounds
Dominic Demarco, Ponderosa vs. Josh Boger, Coalinga
Brett Sanchez, Clovis vs. Rudi Burtschi, Oakdale
287 pounds
Willie Hernandez, Norte Vista vs. Roger McCovey, Del Norte
Dominic Galas, Central Catholic vs. Jonathen Zamora, Clovis