Merced's Urquizo 152-pound state champion

BAKERSFIELD -- Like he was for almost every match this season, Chris Urquizo was in control Saturday night.

The Merced High senior celebrated his 18th birthday Saturday by pinning Buchanan of Clovis' Martin Fabbian 1 minute, 30 seconds into their 152-pound finale at the CIF State Wrestling Championships at Rabobank Arena. Urquizo was the only Stanislaus District wrestler to reach the state finals.

"The cradle was there, I couldn't pass it up," Urquizo said of the move that helped him turn Fabbian onto his back and get the pin. "I can't believe it."

Urquizo wasted little time with Fabbian, who shocked several wrestlers -- including Central Catholic's T.J. Belton -- on his way to the finals. Urquizo took Fabbian to the mat, grabbed the cradle and it was over.

Afterward, Urquizo grabbed his brother, assistant coach Steve Urquizo, and head coach Clayton Schneider in hugs. He put on an old-school Merced warmup jacket from 1987, the last time a Merced wrestler -- Marvin Eastman -- won a state title.

"I'm so proud of him," Schneider said. "I jumped up and down after he won, but I don't think it's sunk in yet."

It hasn't for Urquizo, either. He was a state runner-up as a sophomore, then didn't wrestle his junior year.

"I always look back to my sophomore year to pump me up," Urquizo said. "I didn't want to come back here and take second again."