Escalon’s varsity boys and girls traveled to Turlock High School for wrestling tournament action on Saturday, Dec. 22. Three girls took part, while 14 boys suited up for bouts on the mat.

At 111 pounds for the Escalon girls, Kaylee Freeseha went 2-2 and did not place. Kaitlyn Ruiz took the mats at 150 pounds and ended the day with a third place showing.

“Going 3-1, suffering her first loss of the season, was Mikayla Vega,” said Escalon wrestling coach Derek Scott. “She took second at 121 pounds.”

For the boys, of the 14 wrestlers that made the trip, seven of them came home with medals.

Earning fifth place hardware were Luis Garcia, going 3-2 at 106 pounds; Donnie Smith also went 3-2 at 195; and Zac Freeseha was 3-2 at 220. All did well, said Scott, especially Smith, who “looked the best he has looked in a varsity tournament.”

Third place honors were pinned down by Garrett Nash, going 4-1 at 152 pounds in his first tournament of the campaign. Julian Gutierrez went 4-1 at 182 to finish third as well.

Brad Hagglund battled his way through the 170-pound weight class and took second place, ending with a 4-1 record, his only loss in the championship bout.

“Taking first place, going 4-0 at 138 pounds was Alex Jimenez,” Scott said. “Matches he used to lose, he is finding a way to win and he won his last match with a third round pin.”

A long road trip is in store this week, with the varsity boys and girls both scheduled to compete in Reno, the boys scheduled to compete on Dec. 26, the girls taking the mats on Dec. 27.