Cade Olivas (Photo/Rob Preston)Three of the weight classes are projected to feature three nationally ranked wrestlers, and most feature a mass of returning California (and other states) state placers. Below is a weight-by-weight overview of the event.
106: Cade Olivas (St. John Bosco) is the nation's top-ranked wrestler in this weight class, and a strong favorite to win the title, even with another top five national wrestler present in Junior National Triple Crown winner Randon Miranda (Quartz Hill). Others to watch include Cadet Nationals double champion Nico Aguilar (Gilroy) along with state qualifier Bryce Morita (Clovis West).
113: Returning state champion Justin Mejia (Clovis) is the nation's second-ranked wrestler in this weight. He should be sternly tested with another pair of nationally ranked wrestlers present: No. 10 Ian Timmins (Wooster, Nev.), a Cadet Nationals double finalist; and No. 4 (at 106) Tomas Gutierrez (Pomona, Colo.), a returning state champion. Others to watch include returning state placers David Campbell (Mission Oak) and Javier Alaniz (Clovis West), along with state qualifiers Andrew Nelms (Porterville) and Zander Silva (San Marino).
120: Nick Suriano (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) is ranked No. 2 nationally in this weight class, and undefeated through two-plus years of high school competition. While he is the favorite here, there are two other nationally ranked wrestlers in the weight class: No. 14 (at 113) Navonte Demison (Bakersfield), a returning state third place finisher, and No. 20 Devan Turner (Dixon). Other to watch include returning state placers NicoColunga (Oakdale), Isaiah Palomino (Bellarmine Prep), and Tristen Gilliland (Clovis); multi-time state champion Kyson Levin (Pleasant Grove, Utah); Reno TOC champion Travis Torres (Pomona, Colo.); 2013 Cadet freestyle All-American Chris Deloza (Clovis North); along with state qualifier Ross Arve (Buchanan).
126: In addition to the pair of nationally ranked wrestlers, No. 7 (at 132) Israel Saavedra (Modesto) and No. 19 Durbin Lloren (Buchanan), there is an abundance of quality depth. Other returning state placers include Jaden Enriquez (Mission Oak), Peter Lipari (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), and Russell Rohlfing (Sonora). Enriquez was a Cadet National folkstyle and Greco-Roman champion, as well as a freestyle All-American; Lipari was a Junior National freestyle All-American. Others to watch include state champions Nelson Jones (Pleasant Grove, Utah) and Michael Soler (Lake Stevens, Wash.), notable freshmen Jacob Greenwood (Poudre, Colo.) and Alex Felix (Gilroy), along with returning state qualifier J.J. Figueroa (Bakersfield).
132: Wrestlers to watch in this weight class, which is bereft a nationally ranked wrestler two-time state champion Ben Anderson (Pleasant Grove, Utah), returning state placer Julian Flores (San Marino) and Carlos Herrera (Bakersfield), along with dynamite freshmen in Shane Griffith (Bergen Catholic, N.J.).
138: Without a nationally ranked wrestler, this is one of the tournament's weaker weight classes. Lynchpin figures are returning state placers Isaiah Hokit (Clovis) and Evan Wick (San Marino). Others to watch include former state placer Khristian Olivas (Clovis), state champion Cole Van Anrooy (Roseburg, Ore.), state qualifiers Greg Gaxiola (Buchanan) and Lauren Angelhina (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), freshman sensation John Manning (Juan Diego, Utah), and Nick Valadez (Pitman).
145: This is the final of three weighs featuring three nationally ranked wrestlers. The group is led by returning state third placer McCoy Kent (Enochs), who is ranked No. 8 nationally. He is joined in the rankings by No. 15 Jeremy Thomas (Santiago Corona), a returning state qualifier who placed third at the Walsh Ironman; as well as No. 19 Zander Wick (San Marino), a returning state qualifier who won the Southwest Kickoff Classic. Others to watch include state placer Joseph Dominguez (Northview), state qualifier Lane Barnes (Clovis), and notable freshman Jake Ryan (Oakdale).
152: Leading the way in this weight class is No. 17 Justin Thomas (Santiago Corona), already a two-time state placer and just a junior. Others to watch include state champion Layne van Anrooy (Roseburg, Ore.); state placers Connor Francis (Buchanan) and Nigel Ruiz (Bishop Amat); along with state qualifiers Jared Hill (Clovis), and Luke Troy (San Marino).
160: This is the second of three weight classes in the tournament that does not feature a nationally ranked wrestler. The likely favorite is two-time state qualifier Dominic Kincaid (Clovis), who is ranked No. 1 in this weight class by The California Wrestler. Others to watch include returning state placer Alex Garcia (Christopher), 2013 state placer Lorenzo de la Riva (Folsom), state qualifiers Ricky Padilla (Northview) and Zack Velasquez (Ponderosa), and notable freshman Anthony Montalvo (Buchanan).
170: The obvious anchor here is the nation's top-ranked overall senior Anthony Valencia (St. John Bosco), who is ranked No. 2 in this weight class. Others to watch include state placers Josh Hokit (Clovis, Calif.), Joe Grello (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), and Koy Wilkinson (Pleasant Grove, Utah); state qualifier Mason Koshiyama (Folsom); and Powerade runner-up Cade Belshay (Buchanan).
182: The nation's No. 1-ranked wrestler in this weight class is Zahid Valencia (St. John Bosco), and he is the obvious favorite here. Others to watch include Kevin Mulligan (Bergen Catholic), ranked No. 15 nationally; state champion Haydn Maley (Roseburg, Ore.); as well as state placers Matt Penyacsek (Gilroy) and A.J. Nevills (Clovis);
195: No. 19 Ritchie Brandt (Liberty-Madera), a state runner-up last year, leads the way in this weight class. Other contenders include Powerade runner-up Young Woo An (Buchanan), state champions Hunter Brown (Centennial, Nev.) and Cody Vigoren (Lake Stevens, Wash.), state placers Alec Gamboa (Madera) and Austin Flores (Clovis North); as well as state qualifier Adam Prentice (Clovis)
220: This is the shallowest weight in the Golden State this year, and as such is the weakest in this Doc Buchanan event. A couple wrestlers to note are Kai Dill (Buchanan), Mark Penyacsek (Gilroy) and freshman Seth Nevills (Clovis).
285: Leading the way here is returning state placer Joey Alvarez (Selma), ranked No. 17 nationally. Others to watch include Dane Drimmer (Chaparal), Hexton Coronado (Clovis), and Zack Levatino (Buchanan).
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