Stockton was the final stop for seven Escalon wrestlers, as all came up against some stiff competition at the Master's Meet, failing to qualify for the State Wrestling Tournament in Bakersfield.
"We took seven guys and the first day, three of them were eliminated," explained head coach Derek Scott. "Two seniors closed out their careers, Tyler Draper went 1-2, Cody Bandini went 1-2."
Draper wrestled for the Cougars at 145 pounds, while Bandini filled the 130-pound weight slot. Also ending his season on Thursday, Feb. 21 during the first round of the master's at UOP was Charlie McDonald, a junior, going 2-2 at 152 pounds.
"We thought all those guys wrestled to their potential," Scott said, noting that McDonald's losses came to wrestlers that went on to qualify for the state meet.
Four Cougars did advance through the brackets to make the second day, all just falling a match short of the placement rounds to continue to the state competition.
At 103 pounds, freshman Christian Franks went 3-2 over the two days, closing out with a 6-2 loss to an opponent from Nevada Union.
"He was real competitive," Scott said of his youngest varsity grappler.
Bryan Toy took the mats at 112 for Escalon and the senior went 2-2, ending his career with a 7-3 loss to a Folsom wrestler on Friday. At 119 pounds, senior Anthony Rodriguez went 2-2, with his losses coming to wrestlers that finished third and fourth in the master's and will move on as well. He lost his final match 10-4 to a wrestler from Vacaville, with that wrestler taking third.
"We took seven guys and the first day, three of them were eliminated," explained head coach Derek Scott. "Two seniors closed out their careers, Tyler Draper went 1-2, Cody Bandini went 1-2."
Draper wrestled for the Cougars at 145 pounds, while Bandini filled the 130-pound weight slot. Also ending his season on Thursday, Feb. 21 during the first round of the master's at UOP was Charlie McDonald, a junior, going 2-2 at 152 pounds.
"We thought all those guys wrestled to their potential," Scott said, noting that McDonald's losses came to wrestlers that went on to qualify for the state meet.
Four Cougars did advance through the brackets to make the second day, all just falling a match short of the placement rounds to continue to the state competition.
At 103 pounds, freshman Christian Franks went 3-2 over the two days, closing out with a 6-2 loss to an opponent from Nevada Union.
"He was real competitive," Scott said of his youngest varsity grappler.
Bryan Toy took the mats at 112 for Escalon and the senior went 2-2, ending his career with a 7-3 loss to a Folsom wrestler on Friday. At 119 pounds, senior Anthony Rodriguez went 2-2, with his losses coming to wrestlers that finished third and fourth in the master's and will move on as well. He lost his final match 10-4 to a wrestler from Vacaville, with that wrestler taking third.
