Prep wrestling: Injury sidelines Clovis’ two-time state champ Justin Mejia at Doc Buchanan
Two-time California high school wrestling champion Justin Mejia of Clovis injury-defaulted out of the tournament while Bergen Catholic-New Jersey took a narrow lead over Buchanan after the first day of the 39th annual Doc Buchanan Invitational on Friday.
Mejia, a junior who is committed to Iowa, injured his knee during an opening-round, 16-2 major decision over Mikey Mello of Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills in the 120-pound division at one of the nation’s top prep wrestling events.
The state’s 106-pound champion as a freshman and 113-pound champ as a sophomore, was not able to continue for his second-round match against Isaiah Hernandez of Roseburg-Oregon.
The severity of Mejia’s injury and how long he’ll be sidelined was not known as of Friday night.
With the exit of Mejia – a two-time Doc B champion and The Bee’s reigning Wrestler of the Year – Bergen Catholic and Buchanan soared past defending champ Clovis in the team title race.
Bergen Catholic scored 144 points and placed six in the semifinals, led by nationally No. 1-ranked 126 pounder Nick Suriano.
Buchanan is second with 135 points and six semifinalists: Matthew Olguin (106), Durbin Lloren (132), Greg Gaxiola (152), Abner Romero (160), Anthony Montalvo (182) and Trevor Ervin (195).
Clovis sits third at 119.5 points with three semifinalists in Josh Hokit (195), AJ Nevills (220) and Seth Nevills (285).
Other semifinalists from the Central Section include Selma’s Robert Areyano and Clovis West’s Javier Alaniz at 113, Selma’s Robert Garcia at 120, Clovis North’s Chris Deloza and Mendota’s Carl Castro at 126, Bakersfield’s Navonte Demison and Mission Oak’s Jaden Enriquez at 138, Selma’s Ruben Garcia at 145, Bakersfield’s Sam Loera at 160, Bullard’s Bevan Brandt at 220 and Frontier’s Jarrod Snyder at 285.
The tournament resumes at 9 a.m. Saturday, with the semifinals set for 10:15 a.m. and the finals at 5 p.m. at Clovis High.
Nick Giannandrea: 559-441-6103, @NickG_FB
Doc Buchanan Invitational
- Saturday: 9 a.m.; semifinals at 10:15 a.m.; finals at 5 p.m.
SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS
106: Nic Aguilar, Gilroy vs. Colton Yapoujian, Pomona-Colo.; Elijah Palacio, Calvary Chapel vs. Matthew Olguin, Buchanan.
113: Carmen Ferrante, Bergen Catholic-N.J. vs. Robert Areyano, Selma; Josiah Nava, Pueblo County-Colo. vs. Javier Alaniz, Clovis West.
120: Tino Lopez, San Marino, vs. Gerard Angello, Bergen Catholic; Ian Timmins, Wooster-Nev. vs. Robert Garcia IV, Selma.
126: Nick Suriano, Bergen Catholic vs. Chris De Loza, Clovis North; Carl Castro, Mendota vs. Devan Turner, Dixon.
132: Trence Gillem, Helix vs. D.J. Lloren, Buchanan; Alex Felix, Gilroy vs. Christopher Foca, Bergen Catholic.
138: Navonte Demison, Bakersfield vs. Chris Sandoval, Pueblo County; Julian Flores, San Marino vs. Jaden Enriquez, Mission Oak.
145: Hunter Willits, Pueblo County vs. Zander Wick, San Marino; Ruben Garcia, Selma vs. Quentin Hovis, Seton Catholic Prep-Ariz.
152: Evan Wick, San Marino vs. Brady Ford, Bergen Catholic; Benjamin Anderson, Pleasant Grove-Utah vs. Greg Gaxiola, Buchanan.
160: Justin Thomas, Calvary Chapel vs. Sam Loera, Bakersfield; Abner Romero, Buchanan vs. Layne Van Anrooy, Roseburg-Ore.
170: Jeremy Thomas, Calvary Chapel vs. Dominic Ducharme, Windsor; Michael Soler, Lake Stevens-Wash. vs Joe Grello, Bergen Catholic.
182: Roman Romero, McNair vs. Jacob Siedner, South Torrance; Bridger Baker, Seton Catholic Prep-Ariz. vs. Anthony Montalvo, Buchanan.
195: Josh Hokit, Clovis vs. Marshall Huberty, De La Salle; Trevor Ervin, Buchanan vs. Kevin Mulligan, Bergen Catholic.
220: A.J. Nevills, Clovis vs. Darryl Aiello, De La Salle; Bevan Brandt, Bullard vs. Cohl Schultz, Ponderosa-Colo.
285: Seth Nevills, Clovis vs. Nick Iversen, Ukiah; Jarrod Snyder, Frontier vs. Christian Rebottaro, Monta Vista Christian.
FRIDAY QUARTERFINALS
106: Nic Aguilar, Gilroy d. Brandon Betancourt, Clovis, 7-1; Colton Yapoujian, Pomona d. Rich Halal, Bergen Catholic, 4-1; Elijah Palacio, Calvary Chapel p. Nathan Bonham, Pueblo County, 5:54; Matthew Olguin, Buchanan d. Mosha Schwartz, Ponderosa-Colo., 7-4.
113: Carmen Ferrante, Bergen Catholic d. Jacob Seto, Elk Grove, 6-2; Robert Areyano, Selma p. Luciano Arroyo, Calvary Chapel, 3:20; Josiah Nava, Pueblo County d. Wyatt Cornelison, Clovis, 7-5; Javier Alaniz, Clovis West d. Ethan Leake, Buchanan, 7-0.
120: Tino Lopez, San Marino d. Josh Brown, Esperanza, 5-3; Gerard Angelo, Bergen Catholic d. Hunter Matney, Ponderosa-Colo., 4-0; Robert Garcia, Selma d. Jeremy Trinh, Oxnard, 10-7; Ian Timmins, Wooster-Nev. p. Ryan Fidel, Dos Pueblos, 4:21.
126: Nick Suriano, Bergen Catholic-N.J. p. Bennett Mesa, Roseburg-Ore., 1:35; Chris Deloza, Clovis North d. Grant Willits, Pueblo County, 5-2; Carl Castro, Mendota d. Owen Lamb, Poudre-Colo, 1-0; Devan Turner, Dixon d. Adam Velasquez, Pitman, 3-2.
132: Durbin Lloren, Buchanan d. Trevor Williams, Oakdale, 3-0; Trence Gillem, Helix Charter d. Curtis Booth, (Folsom), 6-2; Alex Felix, Gilroy d. Tyler Bennett, Freedom, 9-3; Christopher Foca, Bergen Catholic d. Justin Davis, Pueblo County, 7-6.
138: Navonte Demison, Bakersfield d. Johnny Knowles, Calvary Chapel, 3-1; Chris Sandoval, Pueblo County d. Jake Douglas, Lake Stevens-Wash., 5-3; Jaden Enriquez, Mission Oak maj. d. Brady O`keefe, Carson-Nev. 16-4; Julian Flores, San Marino p. Gavilan Melendez, Gilroy, 2:45.
145: Zander Wick, San Marino, maj. d. Trysten Perales, Lake Stevens, 12-2; Hunter Willits, Pueblo County d. Dylan Martinez, Clovis, 2-0; Ruben Garcia, Selma p. Joe Barnes, Gilroy, 1:22; Quentin Hovis, Seton Catholic Prep-Ariz d. Peyton Omania, De La Salle, 7-3.
152: Evan Wick, San Marino tech fall Tyler Meisinger, San Clemente, 18-3; Brady Ford, Bergen Catholic maj. d. Andrew Cervantes, De La Salle, 14-2; Benjamin Anderson, Pleasant Grove-Utah d. Jonathan Garcia, Frontier, 11-4; Greg Gaxiola, Buchanan maj. d. Christopher Lane, Clovis West, 13-5.
160: Justin Thomas, Calvary Chapel p. Jason Bergquist, Folsom, 0:15; Sam Loera, Bakersfield d. Cole Hornbrook, North Medford-Ore., 7-3; Abner Romero, Buchanan p. Juan Villarreal, Gilroy, 3:45; Layne Van Anrooy, Roseburg-Ore. d. Victor Vargas, Clovis, 9-2.
170: Jeremy Thomas, Calvary Chapel maj. d. Jonathan Hunter, Golden Valley, 10-2; Dominic Ducharme, Windsor p. Cade Belshay, Buchanan, 4:51; Michael Soler, Lake Stevens d. Koy Wilkinson, Pleasant Grove, 12-10; Joe Grello, Bergen Catholic maj. d. Kyle Marshall, San Clemente, 8-0.
182: Roman Romero, McNair d. Ruger Wyneken, Clovis, 5-3; Jacob Sieder, South Torrance maj. d. Antonio Gutierrez, Bakersfield, 15-7; Bridger Barker, Seton Catholic Prep d. Angel Solis, Lemoore, 3-0; Anthony Montalvo, Buchanan d. Marcus Macias, Central, 12-8.
195: Josh Hokit, Clovis p. Jake Wood, Newbury Park, 4:49; Marshall Huberty, De La Salle d. Noe Garcia, Gilroy, 4-3; Trevor Ervin, Buchanan d. Danny Salas, St. John Bosco, 3-2; Kevin Mulligan, Bergen Catholic d. Adrian Godiinez, Foothill-Bakersfield, 6-0.
220: A.J. Nevills, Clovis d. Zak Levatino, Buchanan, 8-2; Darryl Aiello, De La Salle p. Brandon Closson, Pleasant Grove, 0:27; Bevan Brandt, Bullard d. Cristian Ayala, Pacifica, 3-0; Cohl Schultz, Ponderosa-Colo. p. Tyler Collier, Clovis, 5:01.
285: Seth Nevills, Clovis p. Jordan Fanning, Rim of the World, 1:41; Nic Iversen, Ukiah p. Isaiah Ortiz, Buchanan, 1:56; Christian Rebottaro, Monta Vista Christian d. David Aranda, St. John Bosco, 6-1; Jarrod Snyder, Frontier p. Walker Wolfgramm, Pleasant Grove, 5:48.
This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 9:36 PM with the headline "Prep wrestling: Injury sidelines Clovis’ two-time state champ Justin Mejia at Doc Buchanan."