All City Teams: Wrestling
Clovis State's Best; BHS Duo Golden
Friday, Mar. 28, 2008
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WRESTLING
Wrestler of the Year
Justin Arredondo
Buchanan, senior
Arredondo was the class of the 130-pound division from start to finish as the Buchanan senior capped a 52-1 season with gold at the State Wrestling Championships. The three-time All-City selection amassed a record of 171-32 during his four-year varsity career. Arredondo, who will wrestle for Davis in the fall, also won titles at the Harold Zinkin Classic, Doc Buchanan Invitational, Las Vegas Holiday Classic, Tri-River Athletic Conference Finals, Central Section Yosemite Division Championships and Central Section Grand Masters Championships.
Newcomer of the Year
Tommy Burriel
Clovis, sophomore
Burriel was one of a tournament-best seven Cougar wrestlers to medal at state as he placed eighth at 171 pounds, quite a feat for Burriel (44-9), who was not a starter early in the season. His determination paid off as the sophomore went on to win TRAC, Valley and Masters championships after earning a spot in the Clovis lineup.
Coach of the Year
Steve Tirapelle
Clovis
Tirapelle, in his 10th season, guided the Cougars to a record eighth state championship and 20th top-five state finish in school history, another state mark. It was Clovis High's first state title since 2003 and second during Tirapelle's tenure. Clovis High also swept the TRAC, Valley -- the Cougars' 18th all-time -- and Masters team championships.
The Rest of the Team
Zach Zimmer
Clovis West, sophomore
At 103, Zimmer (48-4) was a force to be reckoned with as the Golden Eagle won Doc Buchanan, Sam Boyd California Invitational, TRAC and Valley titles. Zimmer added a runner-up finish at the Masters followed by an outstanding state effort -- second. He also was third at the Reno Tournament of Champions.
Madison Gambrell
Clovis, junior
At 103, Gambrell's (39-12) competitive nature was never more evident than at state, where the junior rebounded from a first-round loss to win five straight matches to score vital team points and secure an eighth-place medal. He was first at the Berman Holiday Classic and Mission San Jose Tournament, and second at TRAC and the Doc Buchanan.
Chris Martinez
Clovis West, sophomore
At 112, Martinez topped the 50-win plateau (51-8) in a season that seemed to improve as it went on. After a runner-up finish at the Sam Boyd, and third-place efforts at TRAC and the 5 Counties Invitational, he won Valley and Masters titles before going 4-2 at state.
Clinton McAlester
Clovis, sophomore
At 112, McAlester (35-11), like Gambrell, shrugged off an opening-match loss at state to reel off five straight wins and place eighth. The sophomore, who missed the first half of the season, won gold at TRAC, bronze at Valley and placed fifth at the Masters.
Anthony Waters
Buchanan, junior
At 119, Waters was always atop the tournament leaderboards for Buchanan. The junior won nearly 82 percent of his matches (40-9) topped off by wins at the TRAC Finals and Las Vegas event. Waters, 4-2 at state, was the Valley runner-up, took third at the Masters and placed fourth at the Doc Buchanan.
Steven Fitzgerald
Clovis East, senior
At 125, Fitzgerald was a rock of consistency for the Timberwolves as the two-time All-City pick collected wins early and often. Along the way to a 56-4 record, the 4.0-student, team co-captain and MVP, scored wins at the Zinkin, Doc Buchanan, TRAC, Valley and Masters, and brought home a bronze from state.
Stephen Weimer
Clovis, senior
At 130, if not for a certain Buchanan wrestler, perhaps Weimer, a state silver medalist, would have been the All-City's top performer this year. He went 41-7 -- 41-0 against opponents not named Arredondo -- and garnered his fourth All-City selection. Weimer, who recorded wins at the Berman and Tim Brown Memorial Tournament, was second at the Zinkin, Doc Buchanan, TRAC, Valley, Masters and state.
Nick Fisher
Clovis West, senior
At 135, Fisher was one of three Clovis West state medalists as the Golden Eagles placed seventh in the team standings. Fisher (48-4) was third at state during a year that included wins at the Doc Buchanan, 5 Counties, TRAC and Masters. He was second at Valley and the Tournament of Champions.
Scott Sakaguchi
Clovis, junior
At 140, Sakaguchi (43-5) had a standout junior campaign to notch back-to-back All-City attention. The junior, ranked No. 1 in the state in his division late in the season, walked off with wins at the Zinkin, Berman, Tim Brown and TRAC to go along with second-place outings at the Valley and Masters.
Andrew Balch
Buchanan, senior
At 145, Balch (49-4) was the only other Clovis Unified wrestler to grab a 2008 state title. The double gold of Balch and Arredondo propelled the Bears to fifth in the state standings. Balch, a two-time All-City pick who wrestled much of the year at 152, won at the Doc Buchanan, Las Vegas, TRAC and Valley. He was a Zinkin runner-up and third at the Masters.
James Cook
Clovis West, sophomore
At 152, Cook, who fought through a sprained and partially torn ligament in his ankle during much of the dual season, came on strong down the stretch. Last season's All-City Newcomer of the Year closed with a state silver medal after sweeping the TRAC, Valley and Masters championships. He finished 40-4.
Stephen West
Buchanan, junior
At 160, West, a three-time All-City pick and former Newcomer of the Year, could head the class of 2009. West (52-4) added a state bronze to his trophy case in a year he earned Zinkin, Doc Buchanan, Valley and Masters crowns, placed second at TRAC and third in Las Vegas.
Josh Esparza
Clovis, senior
At 160, Esparza (45-9) came into his own during his final high school season -- a campaign marked with eight top-three tournament efforts. Esparza, fourth at state, took down the field at both the Berman and TRAC, was second at the Tim Brown, San Jose, Valley and Masters, and third at the Zinkin and Doc Buchanan.
Jake Gingold
Buchanan, junior
At 189, Gingold (42-15) went 3-2 at the state tournament to close a junior season that included a TRAC championship and silver medals at both the Valley and Zinkin. One of five juniors -- and 10 total underclassmen -- on the All-City team, next season seems bright for Gingold, who was third at the Masters and fourth at the Doc Buchanan and in Las Vegas.
Brett Sanchez
Clovis, senior
At 215, Sanchez was voted to a second straight All-City selection following a 38-7 season that included wins at San Jose, TRAC and Valley. A team leader, who helped right the ship after a tough start for the team at state, Sanchez placed fifth, a year after taking seventh at 189 pounds. He was second at the Zinkin, Doc Buchanan and Masters.
Jonathen Zamora
Clovis, senior
At 285, Zamora (44-3) was an anchor for the Cougars' quest for a record eighth state title. The two-time All-City honoree, the state's top-ranked heavyweight almost the entire season, amassed individual championships at the Zinkin, Berman, Doc Buchanan, Tim Brown, TRAC, Valley and Masters. He closed with a fourth-place finish at state.
