Livingston junior moving forward after Tamana tourney title

Livingston High junior Rajanvir Chahal stands a slender 5-foot-11, taller than everyone else in the 113-pound class.

But regardless of height or power or technique, thankless hours of conditioning are required to win in wrestling. Chahal has put in what he calls his “homework.”

“I got much better after last season ended,” he said.

Chahal, one of many Stanislaus District wrestlers hoping to climb in the ranks this month, won three times by fall en route to his weight-class title at the Mike Tamana Invitational at Modesto Junior College Gym.

Chahal came out on the better end of a scramble against Oakdale freshman Dustin Chavez and pinned the Mustang prospect in the second round. Training, coupled with his competition over the summer in Greco and freestyle events, has pushed Chahal forward. A Sac-Joaquin Section Masters alternate last season, he’s 15-1 and making a name for himself.

The Tamana brought competitors from 26 schools to the two-day event. Turlock won the dual-meet portion over runner-up Madera South and third-place Ceres on Tuesday, but Oakdale arrived on Wednesday to seize the team title.

Jake Abeyta (120), Trevor Williams (138), Bronson Harmon (152) and Colbey Harlan (160) collected titles for Oakdale. Harlan, a sophomore, is ranked eighth in the state.

It was Harmon, however, who wore the widest grin. The sophomore (9-2) dropped a heartbreaker in overtime to Central Catholic’s Cristian Dominguez two weeks ago in the finals at the Riddle Classic. Undaunted, he’s 9-2 after a solid 9-2 win at the Tamana finals over fellow sophomore Carson Gause of Elk Grove.

All winners at the Tamana received a trophy, a shirt and a backpack. Harmon stashed the trophy in his backpack and was ready for the trip home.

“I was sad that I lost (at the Riddle). Everyone is going to lose. You just keep going forward,” Harmon said. “Since that loss, I’ve gotten more motivated to get into the finals every week.”

Oakdale totaled 234.5 points, far ahead of runner-up Elk Grove with 180.5 and Turlock in third with 152. Coaches from Atwater and Livingston staged the tournament, and both schools logged good performances.

Besides Chahal, Livingston senior Jose Sanchez – 3-2 at Masters last season – dominated the 126-pound bracket. And Atwater senior Johnny Juarez pinned Turlock’s Uriel Villasenior for the 170 crown.

Juarez was named the meet’s outstanding upper-weight wrestler. The top lightweight award went to El Capitan freshman Devin Holman, the 106-pound champion who was carried on the shoulders of his teammates to receive his plaque.

Other champions included seniors Jerry Arrendondo of Patterson and Jacob Pavey of Golden Valley. Arrendondo captured four straight wins by fall for the title at 195. Pavey (19-1), who knocked off Shane Torre of Calaveras at the Riddle, edged sophomore Breck Jeffus of Turlock with a takedown in overtime to win the 220s. It was Pavey’s third tournament title.

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 8:57 PM with the headline "Livingston junior moving forward after Tamana tourney title."