Santa Rosa: Celebrating their 50th year wrestling anniversary, the Bear Cubs of Santa Rosa, will look to improve on their 9th place finish in state last season.
Coach Jake Fitzpatrick enters his 30th season with a record of 209-162-4. The Bear Cubs have won seven conference titles and finished second nine times during coach Fitzpatrick’s tenure as head coach. Past CCCAA individual State Champions for SRJC include Dennis Bardsley the 150 pound champion (and MOW) in 1973. Brian Bowles, two time State Champion at 177 pounds in 1994 and 1995 (and MOW). Kyle Griffin, 2006 undefeated State Champion (and MOW) at 174 pounds. Andres Torres won the 125 pound State Championship in 2012. SRJC wrestlers have won 89 State medals and 28 have earned All American honors.
The 2013 Bear Cubs finished the season with a 9-5 dual meet record. They finished fourth in the Coast Conference tournament, 5th in the North Regional, qualifying eight guys to the State Meet. Three Bear Cubs medaled to lift the team to a 9th place finish at the CCCAA State Wrestling Championship. Aaron Pen Kruger finished 4th at 133 pounds to earn All-America recognition. Our other medalists were Daniel Larman, 6th at 157 pounds and Isai Guzman was 8th at 174 pounds.
The 2014 Bear Cubs will be young but will have a couple of key athletes capable of scoring points in the duals and at the 2014 CCCAA State Championships. The upper weights will be led by returning lettermen Greg Robinson (Edison/Fresno H.S) at 174 and Colton Farley (Napa H.S) at 285/197. He will be joined by a couple of tough freshmen in Taryn Christianson (El Molino H.S) at 174/184 and Freddy Duerr (Montgomery H.S) at 197. The light weights will be anchored by 2011 CCCAA State 7th place medalist Richard Morris (Santa Rosa H.S) at 149/141. He will get help from a couple of tough freshmen in Harris Meglin (Sonoma H.S) 125/133, Denny Layden (Montgomery H.S) at 125 and 2X Idaho state medalist Kenny Raymes (Centennial H.S) at 141 lbs.
Fresno City: Coach Paul Keysaw is optimistic about Fresno City challenging the rest of the state for a team state title this upcoming season. He has won eight team state titles (The most by any coach in the CCCAA), two more than former San Bernardino Valley College wrestling Coach Robert Smith who won six titles while coaching.
Two of his state champions from last season Ali Naser at 141 pounds, and Martin Sandoval at 149 pounds, will be redshirting this season.
Entering this season, the Rams look to make a run at a State Championship in 2014. They will return six guys from the 2013 State Runner-up Team. Returning are; at 125 pounds State Runner-up Arnulfo Olea (Exeter H.S), 133 pounds 7th place in state Vicente Hernandez (Clovis H.S), 141 pounds 5th place in state Adrian Gomez (Corcoran H.S), 184 pounds 3rd place and All-American in 2012 Will Gockel-Figge (Simi Valley H.S), 133 pounds Seth Hood (Monache H.S) and 285 pounds Andrew Singer (Moorpark H.S). Fresno City have some freshman that should make an impact this season. 125 pounds Adrian Camposano (Central H.S), 125 pounds Jonas Gaytan (Clovis H.S), 174 pounds Mohammed Naser (Reseda H.S), and Dominick Freesha (Escalon H.S) at 197 pounds.
Fresno City will also have a few 3rd year guys in Emerson Jimenez (Reseda H.S) 133 pounds, Jason Snelson (Reseda H.S) 174 pounds, Louie Hernandez (Central H.S) 141 pounds and Anthony Lara (McLane H.S) 174 pounds. Coming out of their redshirts and looking to win a spot in the Ram line-up are; Ivan Govea (Firebaugh H.S) 157 pounds and Robbie Standley at 125 pounds.
The Rams currently has 45 wrestlers in the room to start the season.