Local wrestlers eyeing spot in state championships at this weekend’s Masters Meet
The biggest wrestling event in the Sac-Joaquin Section is happening this weekend.
The Masters Meet begins Friday at Stockton Arena and will feature boys and girls wrestlers competing in every weight class.
Action begins at 9 a.m. Friday with boys and girls first-round matches. Boys and girls first-, third-, fifth- and seventh-place matches take place Saturday from 3-6 p.m.
The goal for each wrestler is to finish in the top six of his or her respective weight class to secure a spot in the state championships in Bakersfield Feb. 24-26 at Mechanics Bank Arena.
Stanislaus District wrestlers will be combined with wrestlers from around the section to create 32-person brackets in each weight class.
Modesto High freshman Mackenzie Gilbert took first place in the 103-pound weight class at the Feb. 11-12 Southern Regional Qualifiers at Central Valley High School in Ceres. She was one of 30 local wrestlers who qualified for this weekend’s Masters.
The Top 10 Regional Qualifier finishers from each weight class advanced to the Masters Meet.
Gilbert, Lillian Avalos of Pitman (123), Alana Ontiveros of Pitman (145), Mikayla Lancaster of Gregori (152) and Salana Camacho of Beyer (HWT) all finished first in their respective weight classes at last week’s Regional Qualifiers.
Some of the state’s top boys wrestlers are local.
On the boys’ side, Davis is coming off its second straight Division IV team title. The Spartans had five first-place finishers from last weekend’s event.
Head coach Lim Prim had 11 of his 14 wrestlers qualify for the Masters Meet.
“We have 11 Masters qualifiers this year. That’s the most I’ve taken in the seven years I’ve been coaching there.” he said.
Oakdale, which finished second to Vacaville in Division I at the Sac-Joaquin Section Team Duals, sends 14 to this weekend’s event.
California Wrestler ranks the best wrestlers in the state. The local boys wrestlers in the Top 15 of their weight class are:
106
Central Catholic - Victor Ramirez Jr (11) - 7th
Turlock - Ethan Ward (11) - 9th
113
Central Catholic - Kekoa Ogawa (9) - 13th
126
Oakdale - Michael Torres (12) - 6th
138
Oakdale - Jonathan Hernandez (11) - 13th
160
Oakdale - Carlos Garcia (10) - 7th
170
Oakdale - Ceasar Garza (12) - 1st
220
Turlock - Jack Parrott (12) - 6th
Oakdale - Garrison Gerber (11) - 15th
285
Turlock - Ashton Patterson (12) - 12th
This story was originally published February 16, 2022 at 5:42 PM.
