The big schools displayed their dominance last Saturday at the annual Firebaugh Westside Invitational Wrestling Tournament.
With 30 schools from throughout the Central Valley and Coast participating, Clovis West of the mighty Tri River Athletic Conference won the team title with 234 points. Second place went to San Benito High of Hollister with 209 points. Another TRAC school, Central-Fresno placed third with 159 points and McLane-Fresno was fourth with 157 points. Host Firebaugh High finished up the top five with 154 points.
One of the most entertaining matches of the day took place in the championship for 159 lbs. Firebaugh’s Mike Perez took on Mike Hubbard of San Benito and came away with a convincing 10-1 victory.
At 167 lbs., senior Arren Alaniz of Firebaugh won third place with a first round pin of Michael Mendia of Central.
For the lightweights, 108 lb. Aiden Talavera of Reedley defeated Aiden Medina of Firebaugh by a major decision.
Los Banos Tiger Marthell Buenrostro, competing at 128 lbs., defeated Nathaniel Garcia of Strathmore 11-6 for third place, and senior Jordan Fuentes of Firebaugh pinned Adam Grimaldo of Sunnyside-Fresno for third place at 134 lbs.
Central’s Fernando Ortiz of Central won third place at 146 lbs. with a pin over Firebaugh’s Omar Perez, and Isaac Ceja of Firebaugh lost a tough 1-0 decision to Fernando Zamora of McLane.
Vladimir Rangel of Reedley won the third-place match over Damian Lopez of Dos Palos by pin, and Adan Pineda of McLane placed third at 177 lbs. by pinning Alex Rosa of Firebaugh.
Firebaugh’s Jeremiah Rosa of Firebaugh placed seventh and Anthony Del Rio of Dos Palos placed eighth at 152 lbs.
Today (Wednesday, Jan. 15), both Firebaugh and Dos Palos will head to Avenal for a double dual against the Buccaneers. This Saturday, Bronco head coach Adrian Marrufo will take his squad to the Mission Oak Invitational in Visalia.
