Saavedra gains revenge over Lloren at Doc B wrestling

Clovis High’s 38th annual Doc Buchanan Invitational, one of the nation’s most prestigious regular-season wrestling meets, knew how to close its show last weekend.

About 2,000 did not leave until the featured finale, the 126-pound title match between Buchanan’s Durbin Lloren and Modesto High junior Israel Saavedra. Last year, Lloren defeated Saavedra in the same arena for the same title. In fact, the Modestan had not won the cowboy hat – given to all Doc B champions – in two previous attempts.

Saavedra, the Panthers’ two-time state champion who’s ranked No. 1 in California at 126, dearly wanted the rematch. He shed more than a few pounds, all for another shot at Lloren. The effort paid off in the latest meeting of nationally-ranked wrestlers. Saavedra, cautious in the early minutes, took a 4-2 lead into the third round and pulled away to an 8-4 victory.

Modesto more than held its own at the Doc B, which featured more than 400 wrestlers representing 102 teams, including 11 from out of state.

Enochs senior McCoy Kent, top-ranked in the state at 145, cemented his status as a major contender with his own Doc B title. He went 5-0, topped by a tight 3-2 decision over Jeremy Thomas of Santiago-Corona.

Kent trailed 1-0 after two rounds, chose bottom to begin the third, escaped and scored the clutch takedown with about a minute left.

Oakdale senior Nico Colunga, ranked third in the state at 120, took home a third-place award.

Wrestler of the Week – Escalon senior A.J. Camerena (24-1) was named the most valuable heavyweight of Escalon’s Engel Tournament last Saturday after he won the 195-pound class title. Camerena, one victory away from a state-meet berth the last two years, has not lost since early in the season. He was the Cougars’ only champion in their annual meet.

Notes – Central Catholic enjoyed a big day at the Engel with four winning first-place medals: Jared Nicholson (106), Danny Abbate (145), Christian Dominguez (170) and Miguel Hernandez (182). Nicholson upset Elk Grove’s Spencer Franscesconi in overtime. A five-man CC contingent will compete this weekend at Temecula Valley. ... More than 100 girls will compete Saturday at Enochs’ annual Lady Eagles Invitational. Enochs placed sixth out of 111 teams at the Napa Valley tournament last weekend. The Eagles were led by champion Sariyah Jones (106), Micaela Kent (fifth at 101) and Katrina Guevara (sixth at 131). All three will wrestle Saturday, with action beginning at 9 a.m. Also held at Enochs is the Ricky Miranda Memorial, a boys junior varsity meet. ... Twenty-six teams will be represented at the Joseph Gregori Memorial, a boys varsity competition Saturday at Gregori High. The first matches start at 9 a.m. with the finals around 3.

This story was originally published January 15, 2015 at 8:00 PM with the headline "Saavedra gains revenge over Lloren at Doc B wrestling."