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Four state wrestling champions from area high schools
http://www.reviewindependent.com/articles/2384/1/Four-state-wrestling-champions-from-area-high-schools/Page1.html
Review Staff

 
By Review Staff
Published on 02/23/2010
 
Toppenish Junior Julian Romero capped a stellar season by winning the 125 pound State Championship at the Class 2A Tournament  in Tacoma.  After finishing third as a freshman and second last year at 119, Romero pinned Hockinson’s Jake Kreglo at 1:10 of the first round to complete the season with a record of 32-3. The title puts Romero in an elite group of 24 Wildcat grapplers to win a state championship. 
Toppenish Junior Julian Romero capped a stellar season by winning the 125 pound State Championship at the Class 2A Tournament  in Tacoma.  After finishing third as a freshman and second last year at 119, Romero pinned Hockinson’s Jake Kreglo at 1:10 of the first round to complete the season with a record of 32-3. The title puts Romero in an elite group of 24 Wildcat grapplers to win a state championship. 
The Wildcats scored 65 team points to finish sixth.  It is the team’s fifth straight Top 10 finish.
“We knew we would be up there, but we hoped to do a little better,” said Top-Hi coach John L. Cerna.  “Some of our kids just wrestled kind of flat.”
Senior Jose Barrera claimed fourth at 112.  He lost a close 10-9 match to Burlington Edison’s Enrique Medina in the semis, then dropped his placing match to Daniel Page of Tumwater.  Barrera ended the season with a record of 34-7. 
“Jose started last year as our JV 103-pounder and placed fourth last year. We are really proud of him, He’s a totally dedicated kid,” said Cerna.
Also placing for the Wildcats were junior Adan Chavez (135) and senior Luis Rodrigues (285) who took seventh.
Next year’s edition of the Wildcats team could be even stronger with Romero, the two Hernandez brothers, Aaron Arrdondo (119), the Chavez brothers and the Pech brothers who all saw post-season wrestling action. 
“We have a strong program, and we have a lot of good kids in the pipeline.  We also have an outstanding youth program which is led by assistant coach Jose Segovia,” said Cerna. “We like to say “We don’t rebuild, we reload.’”

Zillah’s Castillo, Davis capture state titles

Chris Castillo won his third state wrestling title on Saturday at the State Class A Matt Classic in Tacoma.
Castillo won his title match in the 152-pound weight division with a 9-4 decision over Tanner Bolt of Kettle Falls.
For the junior from Zillah High School, the win sets Castillo’s sights on his goal of becoming the area’s first four-time state wrestling champion. Castillo also won the 152-pound title last year and the 140-pound weight division as a freshman.
Joining Castillo on the first-place podium at the Tacoma dome was teammate Skylor Davis who won the title at 125 pounds. The two champions helped propel the team to a second place team title.
Also picking up medals at the event were senior Kane Koerner (189) who finished second; Nathaniel Deardorff (215), and John Myers (285) who both placed third; Cortes Hernandez (119) and Rodney Treece (145) both took seventh.

Almaguer wins
Granger title

Granger’s big man, Pete Almaguer claimed the Class A 285-pound title wrestling title on Saturday. Almaguer scored an impressive pin over Will Peters of Chewelah in the title match. Almaguer placed fifth in 2009.
Five Granger wrestlers joined Almaguer on the podium – Joshua Salcedo (103) in second; Jonathan Salcedo (112) for third; Carlos DeLeon (130), Adrian Guerrero (125) in seventh and Matthew Macias, (160) in eighth.