Crescent City Wrestlers Score Big at State Tournament

Crescent City Wrestlers Make Their Mark at California State Freestyle Tournament.

Twenty-six local youth athletes travel the farthest of any team in the state to compete on wrestling’s biggest stage.

When the California State Freestyle Wrestling Tournament opened its doors in Fresno last week, Crescent City was well represented. Twenty-six young athletes made the long journey south to compete against the best youth wrestlers in California.

The tournament, held May 29–31, drew competitors from across California and featured divisions ranging all ages and including more than 1800 athletes. Representing every age division from 8-and-under through high school, the size of the group speaks volumes about the growth of the sport locally and the commitment of these young athletes, their families, and their coaches. Athletes competed across five divisions.

The Bantam (8-and-under) group included RJ Botelho, Mason Deford, AJ Nova, Malachi Navarro, and Neo Rosen-Mitchell. Ten Intermediate (10-and-under) wrestlers took the mat: KelleyAnne Bates, Mack Bond, Adelyn Kannika, Che’shonee Knight, Keanu Lemrise, Greyson Mazenkas, SregonBarney McCovey, SregonStone McCovey, Johnny Orozco, and Amadeus Pimentel-Reyes. The Novice (12-and-under) division featured Dylan Gaston, Layton Magana, Kali Martin, Xavier Mattz, Tee-Tom McCovey, Kamille Perez, and Lukum Steinruck. Schoolboy (14-and-under) competitors Nemechay Bates, Jaxson Meyer-Zlokovich, and Welantuk Steinruck rounded out the freestyle entries, while Colton Magana competed in Cadet Greco-Roman.

Their hard work paid off on the mat. AJ Nova brought home a state championship with a first-place finish in the Bantam division. Malachi Navarro and Adelyn Kannika each earned third place, Layton Magana finished fourth, and Keanu Lemrise took fifth. Barney McCovey and Nemechay Bates placed sixth, while KelleyAnne Bates, Mason Deford, Kali Martin, and Colton Magana all reached the podium with seventh-place finishes.

Ten athletes placing in the top eight at a statewide tournament is no small accomplishment, and reflects the commitment these kids have put in all season.