Turlock’s Albino Orozco (170 pounds) is the last man standing for area wrestlers in the CIF State Wrestling Championships at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.
Orozco advanced to the quarterfinals with a 17-2 technical fall over Kolton Osborn of Trabuco Hills followed by a 34-second pin over Dillain Potter of Caruthers. St. John Bosco’s Anthony Valencia sent Orozco to the consolation bracket with a pin in the third period.
“I thought we had a really good shot of getting two medals,” Turlock coach Mike Contreras said. “Albino did a super job and had a good draw, taking care of business in his first two matches until we met the No. 1 guy in the state (Valencia).”
Orozco faces Anthony Hernandez of Vacaville this morning in an elimination match with the winner guaranteed a top-8 finish.
Turlock’s Rafael Herrera (126) dropped his first match 6-4 to San Fernando’s Johnny Parado before winning three in a row with default over Braxton Gordon of Brawley, a 16-3 major decision over Gilroy’s Jesse Vasquez, and a 10-1 major decision over Bakersfield’s Sean Nickell. Sultana’s Trent Smith ended Herrera’s season with a second-round pin.
Pitman’s Logan Wolfley (160) finished one match away from competing today. Wolfley had to wrestle an outbracket match and defeated Liberty’s Jake Maas 5-4. He followed that with a 4-2 decision over Anthony Mesa of Sultana before getting pinned by Victor Valley’s Victor Lopez.
Wolfley then defeated Sutter’s Chase Miles 7-4 before losing to Freddie Garcia of Santiago 12-1
Wolfley’s teammate Nick Valadez (132) eked out a 2-1 decision over Poway’s Adrain Tomar, before getting pinned by Victor Olmos of Gilroy and beat via a 7-1 decision by Temecula Valley’s Joshy Cortez.
“The kids (Wolfley and Valadez) wrestled an outstanding season,” Pitman coach Adam Vasconcellos said. “Wolfley went 3-2 on the day and wrestled his butt off with his last loss to the No. 2 guy in the state.
“Valadez hit two tough kids – sometimes it’s just where you get put in the brackets.”
Also from Pitman, Nick Roditis (220) dropped his first match 8-4 to Centennial’s David Vanweems. Roditis then lost to Brian Book of Durham, 6-1. Pride teammate Eric Bejaran was 0-2, starting with a pin by Carlsbad’s Chance Eskam in the first round followed by a third-round pin by Deer Valley’s Rangel Lowry.
Hilmar’s Antonio Melo (182) was pinned in his lone match and was forced to default his second.
Competition begins this morning at 9 at the Rabobank Arena.