In Escalon’s fifth and final tournament of the year at Escalon High School, there were over 250 wrestlers attending. Combining wrestlers from Escalon Wrestling Club, El Portal and Escalon High School teams, Escalon had 42 wrestlers attend the March 11 event.
“That is a great number of wrestlers to turn out for this time of year,” said EWC coach Derek Scott. “The program is really heading in the right direction with Johnny Costa involved in all three programs, bringing them all together on the same page.”
Escalon had 33 of its 42 wrestlers bring home medals. Names are spelled as provided by coaches.
In the 5-6 year old Division bringing home medals were: 6th place Teagon Middlestadt, taking 4th was Johnny VanDyke, taking 3rd was Freddy Velasco and taking an impressive runner-up finish was John Kemp.
In the 7-8 year old Division bringing home 5th place medals were Mickey Bell, Tyler Powell and Jackson Kidd. Taking home a 3rd place medal was Rigden Middlestadt, and coming home with runner-up honors were Roman Hinojosa and Daulton Shinn.
In the 9-10 year old Division, Mikey Bell took 5th place, with Luca Cerasi earning a hard fought runner-up finish. Taking home an EWC first title was Alex Gutierrez.
In the 11-12 year old Division placing 4th was Matthew Freeseha, Owen Nash, Anthony Jones and a girl wrestler in a boys division was Emelia Otero. Taking 3rd place was a newcomer Nate Kreiger, and finishing up with an impressive runner-up finish was Talen Reider. Bringing home the gold was Sam Hinojosa.
In the 13-15 year old Division medaling were Ryan Trick and Sebastian Snow. Taking 3rd place were Luis Garcia and Sebastian Snow (in two weight classes). Taking home runner-up honors were Ty Murray, Cole Murray and Casey Vassallo. Bringing home the gold were Christian Rowe, Thomas Rowe and Garrett Nash.
In the High School Division winning the boys division was a girl wrestler Julia Casillas. Also winning golds were Alex Jimenez and Zac Freeseha. Coming in 2nd place were Donnie Smith and Dylan Dugo.
“I was very impressed with the turnout from all involved in Escalon wrestling. The tournament was refereed by EWC Coach Nate Nash and many of the EHS wrestlers. Coaches were represented by all three programs with EWC Eric Rowe, Larry Lawrence, Dylan Furtado in attendance with El Portal Coaches Joey Costa, Johnny Costa and Jeremy Mills all on hand,” said Scott.
Escalon High School Coaches assisting were Scott, Atom Garcia, and Ray Krieger.
Scott thanked the community wrestling programs and all wrestling parents that helped assist as well as wrestlers from Oakdale High School.
“I wanted to give a special thanks to Jeff and Deda Williams for running the snack bar at all the events, and thanks to Brianne Cerasi for organizing the event, John McDonald for serving as head official at all EWC events and Julie Abbel for running all brackets and tables,” Scott noted. “I am very grateful for the great effort from all of Escalon and all the wrestling volunteers and assistants.”
An earlier tournament, hosted at Oakdale High School on Feb. 25, saw the Escalon wrestlers from kindergarten through eighth grade competing at the Scway Zone Championships. The top 7 qualify to State. Names are spelled as provided by coaches.
5-6 year old Division
Wrestling well to get to State were John Kemp who took 2nd place at 42 lbs., Brody Krasco took 7th place at 46 lbs., Vincent Reis 3rd place at 46 lbs. and Freddy Velasco took 5th at 46 lbs.
7-8 year old Division
Earning a State berth were Ace Krasco taking 6th place at 74 lbs., former State placer Roman Hinojosa 2nd at 74 lbs. and in his first year becoming a Zone Champion was Daulton Shinn at 104 lbs.
9-10 year olds Division
Earning State berths were 6th place wrestlers Mikey Bell at 61 lbs., Tyler Bogle at 70 lbs., Donovan Martinez took 5th place at 70 lbs. Making the finals was 2x State qualifier Preston Berhorst with a 2nd place finish at 97 lbs. Becoming Zone Champions are former State finalists Luca Cerasi taking 1st at 57 lbs. the State Champions and Runner-up Alex Gutierrez at 85 lbs., and Ryan Lewis at 128 lbs.
11-12 year old Division
Taking 6th place was Owen Nash at 106 lbs., bringing home 5th place honors were Cruz Snow at 81 lbs. and Anthony Jones at 114 lbs. Taking 3rd was Talen Reider at 77 lbs. and a monsterly improved JW Mills at 81 lbs.
Being home Zone Championships were Christian Rowe 3x State qualifier at 90 lbs. and former State placer Sammy Hinojosa at 215 lbs.
13-15 year old Division
Earning a trip to State taking 4th place was Luis Garcia at 85 lbs., 3rd place was EJ Lewis at 142 lbs. and Sabastian Snow at 185 lbs. Becoming Zone Champions were Thomas Rowe at 142 lbs. and Samuel Hinojosa at 215 lbs.
“This was a very tough tournament with over 400 wrestlers, we finished with a very impressive 26 State qualifiers, we also had a team record of 8 – 1 and were Zone Champions,” Scott said.
The tournament coaches were Dylan Furtado, Johnny Costa, and Club President Derek Scott, Brianne Cerasi and several of the club’s assistants. All were very pleased with the kid’s efforts.
The K–8 State Tournament will be held Saturday and Sunday, March 24 and 25 at Buchanan High School with the Top 8 becoming State placers.
EWC is also currently planning for its annual Rib and Oyster Event, which will be hosted on April 28, 6 p.m., at the Escalon Community Center.
