CIF State Wrestling FINALS

We're ready here in Modesto.

Don't have anyone in this, but we just love wrestling and especially all the boys from the SJS!!

Or are there empty seats?

Folks are just beginning to stream in. They're showing replays from last year's finals. I totally forgot that James Cook (now at Madera) was a state finalist for Clovis West last year. He's losing to Anthony Meza of Vista. My money's on Meza!

PlacerMom, I wish there were more SJS finalists this year. Two is not a great number, although 24 medalists is.

And the Contra Costa Times tells me Jason Welch is in the Big 10 Final!

I will never, ever forget seeing Welch wrestle against Louis Bland at Memorial Auditorium just a couple of years ago. What an amazing match that was!!!

And Rodebaugh?, he's a hometown favorite here.

They're doing a special award for Josh Aveeno, the kid from Santa Teresa who is blind. He compiled a 44-7 record out of the CCS.

And wow, just saw that two locals will be inducted into the California Wrestling Hall of Fame: Lee Ehrler and Dan Gonsalves.

Ehrler was a California Community College champion and took third in the NCAA. He's also a longtime coach who led programs at Downey, Ceres and Riverbank before heading to MJC.

I believe Gonsalves is the current Modesto City Schools director of athletics. He's been involved in Modesto City Scdhools for 53 years. Six wrestlers he coached have placed in the NCAAs" John Azevedo, Lee Ehrler, Brady Hall, Grant Arnold, Mike O'Brien and Leroy Evans.

Sportsmanship award winners being announced. SJS winners were Fabian Garcia (Turlock), Kyle West (Oak Ridge), Ryan Loder (Granite Bay) and Giovanni Sani (Central Catholic).

rh88 we'll have running updates on all the finals here.

We're half an hour from the finals starting ... and we're not even close to a sellout. Not even 50% full right now.

Sandy Stevens:
"Every state placer place stand and be recognized!"
"Every state qualifier place stand and be recognized!"
"If you're the parent of any wrestler who's been in the state meet, please stand!"
"Relatives, too your feet!"
"Teammates, your turn!"
"Schoolmate of any wrestler, please stand!"
"Coaches, please stand up!"
"If you're a HOME-TOWN FAN of any wrestler, please stand!"
"Or if you're just a wrestling fan and love being here, please stand!"

At this point, everybody but the media is standing.

Rulon Gardner in the house! Big standing O for the big man.

love it!

Remember Varner from Bako? He is in the finals for Iowa State against Brester from Neb. 0-0 at the start of the 2nd period.

All the placewinners are being paraded around the arena now. Led by the inducted hall of famers. Dan Gonsalves led the 130s.

Rulon Gardner watching all of them as they walk onto the mat. I don't know if he's in wrestling shape, but he was always sort of roly-poly. (Don't tell him I said that)

End of 2nd period...Varner down 3-0

Here ya go PlacerMom!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDDTpdNWFHw 

Enjoy.

I'm a fan of:

Chris Urquizo (SJ1) 152
Merced High School

Go Bears!

Varner with an escape and a huge take down at the edge of the mat...3-3

I remember Varner well. He was a beast and part of those unreal Bakersfield teams that dominated for a few years.

Rulon Gardner takes the mike: "It's a great pleasure to be here and be at this amazing state tournament. One of the toughest state tournaments out there." Respect!

26 sec to go.......and despite a huge effort Varner could not get the last second take down. Brester with the 4-3 win

I'm settled in with a humongus plate of Spaghetti and Meatballs, Garlic bread and "dessert".  Entertain me, if you please!

I'm a fan of:

Chris Urquizo (SJ1) 152
Merced High School

Go Bears!

Just for that video I will root like crazy for Chris Urquizo!!!!! Will, I'm done blogging and will now just be listening to you! Your the man of the hour! Thanks!!!!!

Not a sellout, but it's filled in nicely. Lots of empty seats to my right.

Finalists are lining up for the faceoff. It's 7:07, and they have to fill time until the networks break in at 7:15. What, no TV? Looks like you're just going to have to stay here then!

The ModBee does have a videographer out here and he will be uploading videos at some point in the next day or two, by the way. The videographer is also shooting a documentary (his project) on Downey wrestling coach Tony Ippolito.

Urquizo got a nice cheer when he was introduced. Shawn Jansen said there were a handful of Merced High coaches/teachers/fans who got in their cars and drove down when they heard he made the finals. I couldn't quite hear Mac yelling from Waterford, though.

Lights off, spotlight on. And Welcome to the Jungle playing over the speakers.

103 finals: Alex Cisneros (Selma, 47-0) vs. Stevan Knoblauch (Clovis West, 26-5).

Both wrestlers use that style with one knee on the mat, kind of half-crawling. They're grappling in the middle of the mat.

Cisneros beat Knoblauch 6-5 in their only match. I assume it was at Central Section Masters last week.

And it's 0-0 after the 1st period. Neither wrestler willing to take the first shot.

Cisneros grabs a single but Knoblauch fights him off and off the edge of the mat.

Then Cisneros outside shot and grabs an ankle. Knoblauch tries to hurdle him, but takedown for 2-0. And back points, Cisneros tilts Knoblauch for three points and it's 5-0. 1:00 left in the 2nd.

Cisneros on top, he does a somersault and turns Knoblauch for three more points. It's 8-1, Cisneros after two.

Cisneros escape to start the 3rd, and he gets a takedown almost immediately after for aan 11-1 lead. Too fast for Knoblauch.

Cisneros is active on top, trying to turn Knoblauch. Knoblauch fights him off but can't escape. And that's a final, 11-1 for Alex Cisneros of Selma. A freshman state champion. Only three more years to go, Alex!

112 final:
Esteban Cabanas (Canyon Springs, 52-4) vs. Jesse Delgado (Gilroy, 46-1).

Both wrestlers very active. Dancing all over the circle.

Delgado with a takedown with :22 left in the 1st. And He also gets back points - 2 - for a 4-0 lead after 1.

2nd period: Cabanas on top and Delgado escape at 1:30.

The two meet in the mddle of the mat and Cabanas with a takedown. It's 5-2 at :55. Delgado escape at :45 and it's 6-2.

Cabanas grabs a single and whips Delgado down at :02. nice move, and the crowd cheers its approval.

3rd period: It's 6-4 Delgado. Cabanas beginning to shoot more, looking for an opening. Delgado stalling warning. 1:00 left!

Crowd yelling for the stalling call on Delgado. And there it is! Delgado stalling and it's 6-5.

They're in the middle of the mat, each side with a headlock and the ref calls a stalemate (!) and the crowd booes.

Cabanas stayed active the while match and Delgado stalls it out for the 6-5 win. I wouldn't have complained if there were another stalling call.
Delgado with the win!

119 final:

Steven Salinas (Northview, 46-0) vs. David Klingsheim (Liberty, 37-1). Should be a great final.

1st: Salinas grabs a single and is working it, but Klingsheim does a somersault in the air and g ets out of it. Big gasp from the crowd.

The grapple on the mat and Klingsheim ends up woith the advantage, takedown, Klingsheim! 2-0 with 1:00 left.

Blood time for Salinas. It's 2-0 Klingsheim late in the first.

Escape, Salinas; and takedown Klingsheim for a 4-1 lead heading into the 2nd. Klingsheim escape to start the 2n d and it's 5-1.

Klingsheim leveraged his way to another takedown. It's 7-1. Salinas nearly had a takedown earlier this period but Klingsheim fought him off again. These wrestlers are closer-matched than the 7-1 score after two periods.

Salinas shoots high and Klingsheim ducks under it and, after a possible stalemate position, Klingsheim works his way to the takedown. Escape Salinas, and Klingsheim takedown at the buzzer. Klingsheim wins 11-2. State champ!

125 final:
Martin Gonzalez (Gilroy, 38-2) vs. Brandon Rocha (Lemoore, 51-4).
Somewhere in this crowd is Art Rosenberg, the father of Modesto Bee fantasy sports columnist and copy-editor Stu Rosenberg and a huge Lemoore fan. I see Art here every year.

This is a rematch of last year's 119-pound state championship. Gonzalez won that match in overtime.

The two circle each other and tie up a few times, but no score after the first period.

Gonzalez on top to start the 2nd.

Gonzalez with an escape and it's 1-0. Neither wqrestler is willing to take shots and folks are yelling "stalling!" at both of them!

Rocha takedown at the edge of the mat, but the ref said it was OB. The crowd screams. Rocha definitely on the offensive moreso than Gonzalez. And it's 1-0 Rocha heading into the third. Gonzalez let up and it's 1-1 in the third

There's the stalling warning on Gonzalez. Rocha shoots a high-C but doesn't get anywhere with it. 1:02 left an d it's 1-1 and the rhythmic clapping from the crowd has started.

And there's a takedown by Gonzalez! 3-1 with :44 left.

An astute observation made by one of my compatriots on press row. Both Gonzalez and Delgado from Gilroy really slowed down their matches and waited for the big move.

Gonzalez hit with stalling again, it's 3-2 with :11 left!

152 pound any results, and whose in the finals for 189

And Gonzalez is your champion! 3-2. Sorry, Art Rosenberg, wherever you are. And Rocha with a big toss of the headgear! Can't blame him, a little frustrating - but successful - style by the Gilroy folks.

130 pounds final:
Henry Yorba (Poway, 46-4) vs. Jose Mendoza (Selma, 49-3).

There's a BIG poway presence here.

Your 189 final is Ian Daube (Poway) vs. Nikolai Crouch (Santa Fe). Probably not until 9-9:15 or so.

Yorba placed sixth in the state the last two years. He and Mendoza tying up in the middle of the mat. No score after the 1st period,.

We have our first rubber ball sighting! Didn't reach the mat.

Yorba with an escape and half the arena cheers. It's 1-0 Yorba with 1:00 left in the 2nd.

Daube, Ian from Poway
Crouch, Nikolai from Sante Fe

We're heading into the 3rd and it's 1-0 Yorba. Mendoza on bottom to start and he escapes at 1:23 left for the 1-1 score.

Neither wrestler taking many shots. :30 left in the match! Tying up in the middle yet again.

And we're going to overtime! 1-1

Yorba gets the single and gets the takedown for a 3-1 victory! The Poway folks go crazy. Yorba flexes his muscles (exactly like Louis Bland did a couple years ago) and the Poway folks still cheer. They booed Louis when he did it.