Members of the Escalon Wrestling Club have had a very busy postseason.
The postseason campaign started with Austin Roberts and EJ Lewis competing but just missing out on medals in the Tournament of Champions at Del Oro High School. The trip was coached by Nate Nash and Larry Lawrence.
Also, Jamin Miller took fifth place honors at the SCWAY State Meet in Clovis.
Going to the USA age division State Meet at Buchanan High School in the girls division was Julia Casillas, who finished just shy of getting a medal, she was in the top eight.
“Placing fourth and qualifying to the USA Nationals was Mikayla Vega,” EWC head coach Derek Scott said.
In the boys division, it was Braiden Vega coming away with a second place showing.
“Finally getting to wrestle people his own weight, he became a state runner up,” Scott noted of the EHS freshman “This was a great trip for us, with us being extremely competitive with the state’s best.”
This trip was coached by EHS girls head coach Atom Garcia and his wife Audree.
“Then last weekend, also at Buchanan High School in Clovis was the SCWAY K-8 grade state event,” said Scott. “EWC was well represented with almost 30 competing.”
Following are those wrestlers who came home with medals.
5-6 year old division: Vince Reis, fourth place; Nico Birakos, sixth; Archer Sanders, eighth.
7-8 year olds: Xander Birakos, fifth; Luca Cerasi, fifth; Caleb Boatman, fifth.
9-10 year olds: Returning state champion Alex Gutierrez, second; Jamin Miller, third; Ryan Lewis, fourth; Gideon Gerber, seventh.
11-14 year olds: Thomas Rowe, seventh; Sebastian Snow, seventh; Jaden Fontes, seventh.
Wrestling well but missing out on medaling were Luke Bates, Matthew Freeseha, Aidan Krieger, E.J. Lewis, Christian Rowe, Garrison Gerber.
“This concludes the EWC winter season, we are extremely pleased with the 2016-17 season,” Scott summarized. “We had almost 80 members, everybody showed great improvement and had fun. With 13 state placers we had almost a 50 percent medal percentage at the state tournament.”
Escalon Wrestling Club finished in the top 10 at the state meet, its best finish ever.
“This was a great season and we’re very proud of all the wrestlers. We represented Escalon proudly here at state,” added Scott. “I want to thank the community, parents and especially the coaches who, with very little fanfare, give up countless hours of their time and the EWC wrestlers for making this a great season.”
Assisting with tournaments throughout the season were retiring EWC Vice President Tracey Miller, next year’s Vice President Brianne Cerasi, Coaches Derek Scott, Larry Lawrence, Nate Nash, Eric Rowe, Russ Gerber, Dimos Birakos and Jeremy Mills, and former EHS wrestlers and current Fresno City College wrestlers Dominic Freeseha and Kyle Jimenez.
