After a very successful season for the Turlock Youth Wrestling Club, head coach Lucas Solarez will be sending two kids to compete at the Western Regional tournament.
William Giron (84) and Adrian Heras (95) are now just one step away from competing at the state tournament.
“I am excited for William and Adrian but excited for Intermediate because they are a special group,” said Solarez.
This past weekend, the Turlock Youth Club competed at the Freestyle state tournament, which was the last of the California USA Wrestling State Championships, and for the third time, the team swept the intermediate division (ages 8-9) and captured another state title, winning an unofficial triple crown.
That means the team won the folkstyle, greco and freestyle in their division.
It also marks the fifth team plaque in three different divisions for coach Solarez.
“Our goal is to keep it together through high school and I would like to see us get back to the glory days because all of the local teams were afraid of us when I was wrestling,” said Solarez.
Slowly but surely the word is beginning to creep around the area, especially since topping out with 37 state medals this year, which includes five state champions and six runner-ups with the season running from October till the end of this month.
“It's been a long season but really exciting for the whole team,” Solarez said. “We knew we had something special with them and lots of great kids and competition so I know that will attract others to come for us and wrestle with us. It’s the goal to keep it going and keep the success going and keep the tradition alive.”
Both Heras and Giron will be going into the 8th grade, and will be competing in the CA-USAW Schoolboy All Star team in Firebaugh.
“It’s a great highlight, all the kids have done more than I expected and the kids have heart,” Solarez added. “It’s tough to wrestle 8 or 9 months out of the year, not just the kids but also thanks to the parents for taking the kids to the best possible competition. They are a big reason why we’ve been doing so well.”
The Turlock Youth Wrestling Club ends the season having finished with seven national placers.
The Regional tournament starts June 21 and will run till June 26..
The Turlock Youth Wrestling Club will also be running a youth wrestling camp at Walnut Elementary on June 17, 18 and 19 with coach Mike Cross. For more information contact Lucas Solarez at 409-5458.
