Twenty-five years ago in 2009, then Los Banos high school wrestling coach Josh Adams connected with the Morning Star Company to host an annual wrestling tournament at the Los Banos High School campus.
Now in 2024, the annual event played host to 32 schools, ranging from Bakersfield in the south to San Jose and Stockton to the north. Los Banos High took home the second-place trophy, with two local wrestlers finishing first in their classes.
Individual champions were crowned in all weight classes and the top three schools were awarded trophies for their finishes.
Clovis was crowned the overall school champion with a team score of 197.5 points. Los Banos finished in second place with 161.5 points (for the first time ever in the history of the tournament), and the Tracy Bulldogs took home the third-place prize with 160.5 points.
Los Banos had two individual champions, with Marthell Buenrostro going undefeated to capture the 134-lb. weight class, and Stanford-bound Brokton Borelli not only winning the individual championship in the 215 lb. weight division but also being voted the “Outstanding Wrestler” in the heavier weight classes.
Firebaugh High finished the tournament in seventh place with 130.5 points and Dos Palos finished in 22nd place with 33 points.
Daniel Benavides from Clovis was named the “Outstanding Wrestler” in the lighter weight classes,
Several Los Banos Tigers turned in fine performances as well, with Michael Coehlo, Udaijot Gakhal, Johnny Tevis Jr., Kolton Kanemoto, Xander Gonzalez, Nelson Fabian and Alexis Toledo all having a strong day of wrestling.
For Firebaugh, many Eagles performed well including Aiden Medina who took third in 106 pounds, and Isaac Ceja who placed second in 150 pounds and Michael Perez who placed second in 157 pounds. Others who did well include Jeremiah Rosa, Ale Rosa and Vicente Cardoza.
For Dos Palos one standout was freshman, Josiah Clark who placed sixth overall in the 165-pound division.
Los Banos High head coach Larry Borelli said he wanted to thank all the coaches, parents, volunteers and Badass Catering for their support to help make the 2024 Morning Star Wrestling Tournament a huge success.
