Escalon’s JV wrestlers and the varsity girls competed recently in the Mel Focha Tournament on the Escalon High School campus. Started originally in 1988 by then-head wrestling coach Rick Heflin, the tourney was designed to honor the longtime local Focha wrestling family.

This year’s event saw approximately 20 teams compete, said current EHS head wrestling coach Derek Scott.

“The event was run by tournament director Seth Davis and many longtime tournament assistants and members of my family, the varsity wrestling team site administration and the community of Escalon,” noted Scott. “And it was sponsored by the Machado family, Joey and Noelle Machado.”

Seven varsity girls competed in the tougher than usual event, Scott added. They had five medalists out of the seven girls. Taking third place honors at 105 pounds was freshman Angeline Mills; 10th grader Dani Roybal at 129 pounds; and freshman Aislin Ingles at 169 pounds.

“Looking great only losing to last year’s Masters runner up was Isabella Alcala at 105. I’m really happy for Isabella,” said coach Scott. “She lost her confidence and got off to a slow start this year, she’s really got it going again these last few weeks.”

Winning her first Focha title was senior Jessica Freitas at 150 pounds.

“Jessica looked great; she can be really good when she believes in herself. The girls have really been working hard these last few weeks and it is really starting to show,” Scott explained. “Julia Casillas and her mom Erica Lopez have really been putting in a lot of time with the girls and they are really starting to gel as a group and improving fast. The girls and coaches are doing a great job this year.”

The JV boys saw nine wrestlers compete with five of them coming away with medals. Taking fourth place at the event were at 134-pound freshman Beau Morgan, and Cruz Snow at 159 pounds; Scott said both of them are greatly improving. Taking home third place at the event was newcomer Adam Chaffer at 154 pounds. Looking good at 144 pounds for the third tournament in a row was freshman Patton Mello, narrowly missing a title.

“We had one champion at the event, continuing to look great was 220-pounder David Ingles,” Scott said. “David is working super hard every day trying to get better. He has matured greatly since wrestling last year and football this year. I have been really impressed with David this year. He really wants to do well and is super willing to learn.”

On hand to help coach the event were assistant coaches Ray Krieger, Travis James, Brent Noon Sr., Ray Scott, Eric Rowe and Kirt Smith and Andrew Baroni and Nick Hanson.

“I want to thank Seth, my family, the wrestlers and the community for all their hard work to make the tournament a success,” Scott said.