Clovis West wrestler scores big upset at state meet, only slip by juggernaut Buchanan
Buchanan High is rolling toward its fifth straight state team championship, two Fresno-area wrestlers are on track for three-peats and Clovis West’s Laz Maldonado scored the big upset of the tournament after second-day action in Bakersfield.
The semifinals and finals are Saturday at Mechanics Bank Arena.
Maldonado, the eighth seed, upset No. 1 Carlos Negrete of Buchanan in the quarterfinals Friday. Negrete came out of the outbracket with two pins and a decision before Maldonado stopped him 2-1.
It was the only slip for Buchanan, which is represented in 10 of 14 semifinals, including two No. 5 seeds. The Bears held a 178-133.5 lead over second-place Poway in the team standings.
Juniors Max Renteria of Buchanan and Richard Figueroa of Selma, each seeking a third straight individual title, easily advanced to the semifinals.
A closer look at the Fresno area’s semifinalists:
Boys
106: Raymond Lopez of Buchanan.
113: No. 2 Joey Cruz of Clovis North and No. 3 Jack Gioffre of Buchanan are opposite Figueroa.
120: No. 2 Tristan Lujan of Selma, who was aiming for a rematch with Negrete, is in one semifinal, Maldonado the other.
126: Renteria has steamrolled three opponents including a 52-second pin against Clovis’ Justin Mouritsen in the quarterfinals. Selma’s seventh-seeded Kimo Leia is in the opposite semifinal.
132: Ryan Franco of Clovis North vs. Hunter Leake of Buchanan.
138: Kyler Lake of Buchanan.
145: Logan Gioffre of Buchanan.
152: Reymundo Raiz of Buchanan, the No. 5 seed.
160: Rocco Contino of Buchanan.
170: Top-seeded Giano Petrucelli of Clovis advanced with three pins. On the other side of the bracket, No. 2 Joseph Martin of Buchanan has two pins and a major decision.
182: No. 5 Jadon Martin of Buchanan.
195: Tyler Gianakopulos of Clovis and Felipe Rodriguez of Clovis West are on opposite sides.
Girls
Defending state champion Cristelle Rodriguez of Buchanan has routed three opponents at 111. She faces fifth-seeded Valaree Ornelas of Clovis.
116: Charlotte Kouyoumtjian of Monache.
121: Melanie Mendoza of Selma has advanced with three pins.
170: BaoAhn Duncan-Perez of Clovis.
235: Arykah Cuevas of Selma, the seventh seed.
This story was originally published February 28, 2020 at 8:40 PM.