A total of 10 Escalon wrestlers – five boys and five girls – will be heading to the Masters Meet in Stockton on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 20 and 21.

The 10 qualified at divisional competition this past weekend, with the girls traveling to Central Valley High School in Ceres, the boys competing at Hughson High School.

Eight Lady Cougars attended the divisionals, with five qualifying to Masters, four getting into the finals, and one coming away as a divisional champion.

Sofia Duran, wrestling at 145 pounds for Escalon, swept to her first place showing.

“She pinned everyone and has really come on strong these last few weeks,” said head coach Derek Scott.

Also making the finals, and coming home with second place honors, were Angeline Mills at 110 pounds, Miroslava Torres at 115, Yesenia Marsellis at 135 pounds. Melanie Carrillo, at 190 pounds, finished fourth.

“The team took fourth place in divisionals and all four girls in the finals beat a state qualifier during the competition,” Scott pointed out.

For the varsity boys, 11 wrestlers attended the divisionals and, like the girls, had four wrestlers in the finals. Two Cougars pinned down first place honors at the divisional level.

Conner McDowell, wrestling at 132 pounds, earned his first divisional title with a first place showing while Luca Cerasi, at 144 pounds, also took first place, earning the second divisional crown of his career.

Jacob Morales took second place honors at 120 pounds and Houston Sizuela was second at 126. At 175 pounds, in his first year of varsity wrestling, Leo Carrillo finished fourth.

‘We took third place in Division 5 and I was pretty happy with that,” Scott said. “Nine of our 11 kids scored points.”

He also said seniors Ezekiel ‘Zeke’ Garcia at 215 pounds, and Logan Wentzell, at 157 pounds, closed out their high school careers, each gong 2-2 at divisionals.

The varsity boys and girls continuing on to the Masters will see plenty of top-notch competition this weekend.

Scott said he feels the wrestlers are well prepared for the opportunity ahead of them and everyone qualifying for the Masters has a chance to earn some victories on the mats at the arena in Stockton.