San Benito’s Josh Ramirez will wrestle Desmond Rios of Pleasant
Valley today in Bakersfield
BASKERSFIELD
San Benito entered the CIF-State Wrestling Championships with three wrestlers and has one remaining.
Josh Ramirez, the Central Coast Section champion at 145 pounds, reached the round of 16 before he lost to state No. 2 Alex Rodriguez of Fresno-Washington Union, 11-7.
He rebounded to win two consolation matches – defeating senior Marty Le Gaspe of Northview by fall (2:21) and senior Joey Lemond of Rancho Cucamonga by a 4-2 decision.
Ramirez will wrestle today at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield at 9 a.m. against junior Desmond Rios of Pleasant Valley. If he wins, he’ll be guaranteed a top-eight state finish.
In the first round, Ramirez defeated Los Banos’ Greg Hartman by a 17-3 major decision to advance to the round of 16.
Meanwhile, San Benito’s Junior Davila at 119 pounds won his opening match by a 13-8 decision over Poway’s Jesse Taylor, but lost in the round of 16 by a 4-1 decision to East Bakersfield’s Peter Gonzalez.
In the consolation bracket, Davila then downed Rodriguez’ Jon Champine 8-4, but was eliminated in the following bout with Foothill’s Chase Aura, who won by a 7-1 decision.
At 160 pounds, Enrique Lucatero lost his first match to De La Salle’s Luke Sheridan, the North Coast champion, by a 10-6 decision.
Lucatero then won three straight matches in the consolation bracket – he beat Bonita Vista’s Nick Barnes 9-5, defeated Ukiah’s John Escamilla 8-4, and upended Palo Alto’s Patrick Sheehan 4-2. Sheehan, in fact, was the Central Coast’s No. 2, while Lucatero was No. 3.
In his fourth consolation match of the day, however, Lucatero was eliminated by Canyon Springs’ Brandon Johnson by a 9-5 decision.
As a team, San Benito compiled 17 points after day one and sit tied for 35th place overall with James Logan and Del Norte, both of the North Coast Section.
Poway is currently leading with 89.5 points, while Buchanan is second with 85.5 points and Clovis third with 85 points.
Gilroy is 11th with 41 points, St. Francis of Mountain View 21st with 28.5 points, and Saratoga rounds out the Central Coast teams in 40th with 16 points.
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Day two of the CIF-State Wrestling Championships will begin today at 9 a.m. at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.
