High school wrestling season has ended but a handful of wrestlers continue to compete, sharpening their skills and staying in shape for next season. Those wrestlers, members of the Turlock Wrestling Club, took part in the 2012 Cadet-Junior Folkstyle State Championships last weekend and their performances earned TWC a team championship in both the Cadet and Junior classes.

“Most of the kids you see do well and make it to State continue to wrestle in between high school seasons,” head coach Mike Contreras said.

Cadet and Junior classes are split up by grade. Cadets consist of freshmen and sophomores and the junior class is made up of juniors and seniors. In some instances wrestlers are allowed to compete in both classes.

Rafael Herrera placed first as a cadet, and Isaac Bertalotto and Albino Orozco took second. Dustin Lema and Gibson Silew also competed as cadets, placing fourth and fifth respectively.

Bertalotto and Orozco also wrestled as juniors, placing first in the class. Jason Valdovinos finished in second place as a junior, Jesse Vasquez placed sixth, and Ricco McCombs and Herrera finished in seventh place.

There is another folkstyle tournament being held today for members of the Turlock Youth Wrestling Club, which consists of wrestlers aged five to 14.

Folkstyle competition is only one part of these wrestlers’ offseason schedule. Next week freestyle competition will begin for both the Turlock Youth Wrestling Club and the Turlock Wrestling Club.