Wrestling: Top-ranked Falcons take on Fresno for title

David Van Weems and the top-ranked Falcons take on Fresno City
David Van Weems and the top-ranked Falcons take on Fresno City

The top two ranked teams in the state will face each other on Sunday for the CCCAA Dual Meet Team State Championship. Cerritos College (17-1), ranked #1, will travel to take on #2-ranked Fresno City College at 7:30 p.m., who will be making their third straight appearance in the state championships.

The Falcons reached the state championship match by defeating Bakersfield (39-6), Santa Ana (38-9) and Mt. San Antonio (21-15), who won the title last year. As for the Rams (11-1), they posted wins over Skyline (50-3), Chabot (47-9) and Sacramento City, 25-12 in the finals.

Both teams are led by a trio of wrestlers that are currently ranked #1 in the state in their respective weight classes. For Fresno City, they are led by 125-pound Julian Gaytan, 133-pound Aaron Mora and 149-pound Dylan Martinez, who are all ranked #1. The Rams also have wrestlers ranked third (Kalvin Stuckey; 197 pounds), fourth (Dean Esquivel; 149 pounds) and a pair ranked fifth in the state, Clinton McAlester (141 pounds) and Joshua Annis at 157 pounds.

Cerritos is anchored by 141-pound Richard Pocock, who is ranked #1 in the state at 141 pounds, while Blake Vasquez holds the top spot an 165 pounds and David Van Weems at 197 pounds. At 285 pounds, David Zavala is ranked #2, while the Falcons have dual threats at 157 pounds with Kevin James (3rd) and Dylan Moreno (6th), as well as at 165 pounds with Kenneth Kirk ranked fourth. Cerritos will be without returning state runner-up 133-pound Anthony Vargas, who was injured earlier in the season.