With over 70 wrestlers signed up for the new season Escalon Wrestling Club, EWC, looks to have another great year. The club returns over 15 state placers and two-time state champion Alex Gutierrez. EWC was excited to start the new year at Oakdale. The team is once again being run by Club President Derek Scott and Club Vice President Brianne Cerasi. The team is being coached by former college wrestlers Jonathan Costa, Ben Lee, Scott Page, Eric Rowe, newcomer from Linden Clinton Sizuela, longtime assistants Jeremy Mills and Larry Lawrence and returning to coaching Justin Chandley, and assisted by El Portal coach Joey Costa.

The club brought 18 wrestlers to the state ranking tournament with 11 coming home with medals. Taking fourth place were greatly improved Ace Krasco, Luke Bates and Frankie Rodriguez. Wrestling great taking home thirds were newcomers Colton Anderson, Ethan Butler. Having wrestled hard all day falling in the finals were Beau Morgan, Daulton Shinn, and losing in the finals in the match of the tournament showing great improvement and toughness, to a Fresno opponent who defeated him by technical fall last spring, this time Luca Cerasi battled to a 7-4 loss.

“That was the best I had seen Luca wrestle,” said Scott. “He showed great heart. I am very pleased with him.”

Taking home first place for EWC were tough Mickey Bell, and a greatly improved Donovan Martinez.

“Utterly mauling all his opponents was the tenacious Alex Gutierrez. Alex showed why he’s been in the state finals the last three years. He’s just flat out tougher than everybody else,” noted Scott.