Gilroy was already a high school wrestling power in California when UFC legend Daniel Cormier took over the program in 2018.
The former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion has maintained Gilroy's standard of excellence with three wrestlers bringing home gold at this year's state meet. The boys team finished third (206 points) in Bakersfield while the girls took fourth (69 points).
Cormier, who last competed in the UFC in 2020, told the San Jose Mercury News that Merrill is "the greatest wrestler in Gilroy history." He will continue his career at Oklahoma State, where Cormier was an All-American in 2001.
At 138 pounds,
Daniel Zepeda beat Paul Kelly of
Poway 6-2.
Moses Mirabal took a 2-1 decision over Joseph Toscano of
Buchanan (Clovis) at 144 pounds for the state title.
The Mustangs have won 21 straight Central Coast Section titles, including five since Cormier took over in 2018. Now a broadcaster for UFC, he went 22-3 during his mixed martial arts career with wins over stars like Antonio Silva, Frank Mir, Dan Henderson and Stipe Miocic.
A Louisiana native, Cormier won three wrestling state titles at
Northside (Lafayette, La.).
