Barraza, Ramirez and Davila each win two matches at CIF State
Wrestling Championships at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield
After his 152-pound fifth-place, Fernando Lucatero exited the mat tobe with his family.
One year removed from breaking his forearm in the Central Coast Section Wrestling Championships, the senior Lucatero joined the spot next to Saul, Eddie and Octavio, becoming the fourth Lucatero to qualify for state.
“Fernando wrestled lights out all weekend,” coach Matt Olejnik said.
After winning his first two matches, Lucatero lost a close decision 5-3 to Anthony Meza of Vista. Not letting it slow him down in his quest to place, Lucatero leaned on the advice of his family, specifically his brothers who all wrestled for San Benito, to rebound with two more victories before one more defeat.
“They’re just giving me pointers of what state is like,” Lucatero said.
Entering a consolation match for fifth place, which would also be the final match of his high school career, Lucatero said he was happy to be a part of the tournament after breaking his arm a year ago and missing a trip to state.
“Yeah, this is a blast,” Lucatero said.
“I was expecting to make it to third or fourth, but fifth or sixth is pretty satisfying.”
Wrestling a closely contested match with Michael Kent of Vacaville, Lucatero took a 1-0 lead after an escape in the second round. The point was quickly given back though as Kent escaped in the third.
After Kent was given a timeout for blood running from his nose, Lucatero scored two decisive points with a takedown by lifting Kent’s left leg while driving a shoulder though his torso.
Lucatero was then awarded another point as his opponent was called for evasion. But after a protest by Vacaville coaches, the ruling was changed to an escape, closing the gap to 3-2.
Lucatero held off a final charge by Kent in the final seconds to win his last match of the tournament, leaving the senior with one last match to remember.
“We had a great tournament. All of our guys won two matches,” Oleknik said. “We took the momentum from CCS and carried it over to this weekend.”
Only Lucatero and 145-pounder Josh Ramirez made it to the second day. Ramirez went 4-2 after falling to Brandon Roell of Laguna Hills by a 4-2 decision, and fell one match from placing.
Junior Davila (112 pounds) and Buddy Barraza (215) each struggled on the first day and couldn’t make it to the second.
Davila won his first two matches but lost to Steven Salinas of Northview by fall (1:00). He finished 2-2.
Barraza won his first match before losing to Josh Boger of Coalinga by fall (3:24). He went 2-2.
