Can these wrestlers three-peat at state wrestling championships? Buchanan eyes fifth straight
Two Fresno-area high school wrestlers are the ones to watch this weekend in Bakersfield, where the state meet begins Thursday.
Juniors Richard Figueroa of Selma and Max Renteria of Buchanan have each won state titles their first two seasons and are aiming for a three-peat this week at the California Interscholastic Federation state championships at Mechanics Bank Arena.
Figueroa won state at 106 pounds in 2018 and 2019. He’s ranked No. 1 at 113 pounds by The California Wrestler
Renteria is ranked No. 1 at 126 pounds by Cal Wrestler and won state the past two seasons at 113 pounds and 120 pounds.
Buchanan still one to beat
Buchanan is aiming for its fifth straight state championship.
“The Empire” won last season’s state title with a dominating performance, outscoring Gilroy 235-182.
The Bears are ranked No. 1 this season. St. John Bosco-Bellflower, Poway, Clovis and Gilroy round out the top five.
Eight Buchanan wrestlers won section Masters titles and three others were runners-up.
Another showdown?
Buchanan junior Carlos Negrete and Selma senior Tristan Lujan are Nos. 1 and 2 respectively at 120 pounds.
Last week at Masters, Negrete beat Lujan 4-3.
Petrucelli seeks first state title
Clovis High senior Giano Petrucelli starts the tournament as the top seed at 170 pounds.
Petrucelli is rated No. 1 by The California Wrestler in the division.
The Air Force commit finished fourth last season at 132 pounds, sixth at 113 pounds as a sophomore and 106s as a freshman.
Girls to watch
The Fresno-area has two top seeds in the girls tournament, being contested on the same stage as the boys for the second straight year.
Buchanan sophomore Cristelle Rodriguez is a defending state champ, back this year at 111s. Central freshman Paige Morales is No. 1 at 101.
STATE HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Mechanics Bank Arena, Bakersfield
Session I Thursday, Feb. 27
Girls championships begin at 9 a.m.
Boys championships begin at 1 p.m.
Session II Friday, Feb. 28
Consolations begin at 9 a.m.
Quarterfinals begin at 3:45 p.m.
Session III Saturday, Feb. 29
Consolations begin at 9 a.m.
Semifinals begin at 11 a.m.
Session IV Saturday, Feb. 29
Championship finals begin at 6 p.m.
