After helping the Cerritos College wrestling team to the CCCAA State Dual Championship, a pair of sophomores have signed their National Letters of Intent. Kevin James, who won the state championship at 157 pounds, has signed with Menlo College, while 141-pound Richard Pocock, a two-time state tournament qualifier, signed with Hastings (NE) College.

James, who had his freshman season cut short due to an injury, missed the entire 2015 season recovering. He returned in 2016 and posted a 14-2 record on his way to winning the state championship, while taking second place at the Southern California Championships. James was set to face teammate Dylan Moreno in the SoCal finals, but the two decided to flip a coin to see who would claim the championship.

At 157 pounds, James (pictured, left)squared off against Fresno City's Joshua Annis in the state championship match. Ranked #3 in the state, James pulled out a close 6-4 win when he opened with a first period takedown and added an escape point in the second period for a 3-1 lead. Annis made it a 3-2 match in the third period before James recorded a takedown with :58 seconds remaining. He then held on for the two-point win after adding a riding time point.

"Kevin overcame a lot to get to this point," said head coach Donny Garriott. "His first season was cut short with a shoulder injury and surgery. He rehabbed his red-shirt year and did everything asked of him to be ready for this year. It paid off with a state championship and full-ride scholarship. Couldn't have happened to a more deserving young man."

As for Pocock (pictured, right), who won the Southern California Championship at 141 pounds, he finished fourth at the state championships to earn All-American status. He reached the semifinals, but suffered a close 5-4 loss to Casper Sherow of Mt. San Antonio College and in the third place match, came up short in a 4-2 match against Hunter Minton of Sacramento City College. Pocock finished the season with a 22-5 overall record after going 15-11 his freshman year.

"Richard Pockock has been a steady influence in our program for two years," added Garriott. "Has an unmatched work ethic, reliability and heart. Richard was a leader who led by example everyday in the classroom, workout room and in competition. We will miss everything he brought to the program."