The 2010 high school wrestling season is just around the corner and it promises to be another exciting year for California’s most successful all-time program. The Clovis Cougars enter the season coming off of a 4th place State finish, only one year removed from a State Championship, back-to-back Central Section Championships and back-to-back TRAC League Championships. The team carries a 27-match dual win streak lasting over 3 years into the 2010 season and leads all schools in the state with 5 returning state place winners and 7 returning state qualifiers.
2010 returning medalists include:• Alec Dieter – Senior
• Clinton McAlester – Senior
• Tommy Burriel – Senior
• Daniel Gaytan – Sophomore
• Zach Nevills – Sophomore
Clovis leads nearly every category on the all-time state list including:
• Most Team State Championships – 8
• Most Top 5 Team Finishes – 21
• Most Individual State Champions – 21
• Most Individual State Medalists – 101
Pre-Season State Top 10 Teams (alphabetical order):
Bakersfield
Buchanan
Clovis
Clovis West
Gilroy
Laguna Hills
Oakdale
Poway
Selma
Vacaville
**As of this writing, no weight classes are determined yet. These previews are designed to highlight the team and individual wrestlers vying for each staring spot in 2010.**
103 2009 Starter: Daniel Gaytan
2009 Result: 4th State
Coming off back-to-back years of state medals at 103lbs (Madison Gambrell ’08, Daniel Gaytan ’09), the Cougars are hoping to continue the string in 2010. Due to the resurgence of the Clark Junior High program under Kenny Martinez’s leadership, the Cougars once again possess incoming talent that is ready to fill the lightest weight class. Clovis wrestlers vying for the spot include freshman
Jonas Gaytan, cousin of returning medalist Daniel Gaytan; sophomore
Matt Gay, brother of recent alumni and Valley medalist Jon Gay; freshman
Lane McAlester, brother of returning 2x state medalist Clinton McAlester; and freshman
Xesus Velarde, brother of current team member Christian Velarde. Others competing for the spot include sophomore
Tyler Gilbert.
1122009 Starter: Madison Gambrell
2009 Result: 7th Valley
The departure of state medalist Madison Gambrell will leave a void at this weight class but after a stellar freshman campaign, sophomore
Daniel Gaytan looks to fill the spot and continue his winning ways. Coming off a 4th place state finish and a Valley Championship, he’ll be looking to make the adjustment to compete against older and stronger wrestlers at 112lbs. Junior
Andy Ia provides strong support at this weight class, placing in several varsity tournaments a year ago. Sophomore
Zach Gilman is also back at this weight class along with the addition of freshman
Jason Ladd.
1192009 Starter: Ben Omata
2009 Result: 4th TRACComing back at this weight for his final season is senior
Ben Omata. After placing 8th in the Valley as a freshman but coming up short a season ago, Omata will be looking to qualify for the state and complete his third season as a Cougar starter. Omata will be pushed by sophomore
Vicente Hernandez who comes back after a very successful freshman year, including placement at varsity tournaments. Another wrestler competing for the spot is junior
Gage Freeeman with existing varsity experience.
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2009 Starter: Clinton McAlester
2009 Result: 6th StateWhat is expected to be one of the more hotly contested weight classes, several underclassmen vie for the staring spot and look to make a name for themselves in 2010. Junior
Juan Salas has already had varsity success but has wrestled behind Jonathan Gay and Clinton McAlester over the past two seasons. Sophomore
Devin Everk comes off of a great Spring & Summer, looking to make his first appearance in the varsity lineup for the Cougars.
1302009 Starter: Sonny Cervantes
2009 Result: State QualifierAfter battling for a starting spot all season in 2009, senior
Sonny Cervantes made the most of his opportunity last year finishing with 3 wins at the state championships. He’s looking to improve on that performance in 2010 and bring home his first state medal. Sophomore
Jake Cap returns to this weight class as well.
1352009 Starter: Alec Dieter
2009 Result: 6th State
Senior
Clinton McAlester has two state medals to his name and only one thing on his mind in 2010 – a state championship. After two very successful seasons, the senior looks to finish his Cougar career amongst the all-time leaders and place a picture on the very elusive north end of the Clovis Wrestling room wall. He’ll be pushed by rising star junior
Brady Bersano who has enjoyed varsity success last season and is ready to break into the lineup.
1402009 Starter: Ben Kelley
2009 Result: 3rd TRACLook for this weight class to be filled by young talent and some of the rising Cougar stars. Sophomore
Chase Bohny and sophomore
Tyler White both enjoyed surprising success as freshman varsity wrestlers. After watching the state championships last year from the stands, they both look to break into the lineup and earn a spot on the floor for this March.
1452009 Starter: Scott Sakaguchi
2009 Result: State ChampionUndefeated State Champion (now at Oregon State) Scott Sakaguchi’s departure will be tough shoes to fill for any Clovis wrestler. But senior
Alec Dieter had a breakthrough season a year ago with a TRAC Championship, runner-up finish at the Valley, and a 6th place state medal. He’ll be looking to continue his dramatic year-over-year improvement and has an eye on Saturday night for this year’s state tournament. Others hoping to vie for the spot include 2-year letterman junior
Christian Velarde and freshman
Martin Tovar.
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2009 Starter: Cameren Kelley
2009 Result: Valley ChampionWith the departure of state medalist and Valley Champion Cameren Kelley, this is another hotly contested weight amongst rising Cougar stars. Sophomore
Colby Thompson filled in the varsity lineup a year ago and enjoyed good success. Sophomore
Dakota Gordon played the same role and wrestled several varsity events with equal results. They will all push each other for this year’s spot.
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2009 Starter: Blake Thompson
2009 Result: 4th TRACTrying to be a starter for his third time in as many years, junior
Blake Thompson will look to continue where he left off last year and earn his first trip to the big stage this year in March. Pushing Thompson will be returning 2008 state contestant senior
Tyler Ceremello after missing all of last season due to personal issues. Another future star here is freshman
Adrian Salas, brother of current team member Juan Salas. Salas was the Junior High State Champion from a year ago and competed well with top level varsity opponents over the Summer. Junior
Matt Rocha also will return and look to improve upon a successful first season with the team. Other newcomers at this weight include freshman
Jack Isles.
1712009 Starter: Zach Nevills
2009 Result: 5th StateThis weight will likely be occupied by sophomore
Zach Nevills, coming off a 5th place finish at the State Championships from a year ago and becoming the heaviest freshman ever to place at the California State Tournament. Nevills will look to improve on his finish from last year and has eyes on a rendezvous with the raised platform on the first Saturday night in March. Sophomore
Ryan Davies will provide strong support to this weight class with lots of varsity experience a season ago, including an 8th place finish at the Zinkin Classic.
1892009 Starter: Tommy Burriel
2009 Result: 6th StateBack for one final run is 2x Central Section Champion and 2x state medalist senior
Tommy Burriel. After a slightly disappointing finish to 2009, Burriel has been all business this Spring & Summer and has his sights set squarely on a state championship. He also looks to complete his career as one of the all-time greats in Clovis history. Burriel will be pushed by senior
Daren Barbo who possesses a few years of varsity experience and hopes to make his final year a good one. Others challenging at this weight include freshman
Sam Zigarelli and junior
Santiago Garcia.
2152009 Starter: Taylor Ferguson
2009 Result: 2nd TRACReturning at this weight are two wrestlers who split time in the varsity lineup from a year ago. Junior
Taylor Ferguson will battle it out with senior
Devon Barbo for the rights to the 215lbs spot and an opportunity at qualifying for their first state championship. Back for his third season after a much improved sophomore year is junior
Orem Camarena.
2852009 Starter: Devon Barbo
2009 Result: 4th TRACWith Barbo competing for the 215 spot again, the heavyweight spot will likely be occupied by junior
Jesus Castaneda. After spotting into the starting lineup a year ago, Jesus looks to bring maturity and toughness to a weigh that has troubled the Cougars since the departure of 2x state medalist Jonathen Zamora in 2008. Giving Castaneda a battle will be senior
Max Howard and potentially the loser of the 215lbs battle between Ferguson and Barbo.
COACHES
After some moves in the off-season shook up the staff more than expected, the core of the Clovis staff is intact and ready for another great season.
Steve Tirapelle will guide his 13th Clovis squad with help from invaluable assistants
Ben Holscher, who lead the Cougars in 2009, and son
Adam Tirapelle, back for his 6th year with the program. Also returning as key staff members include
Eric LeGarreta,
Scott Moore,
Nara Sihavong, and back after a 5-year absence is former Cougar assistant
Pete Samhammer. Joining the staff this year is former Fresno State wrestler
Sean Carlson, ready to fill big shoes in working with the lighter weights. Leading Clark Junior High for the 2nd straight season is veteran coach
Kenny Martinez who looks to continue their winning ways. Clark is undefeated in both duals and tournaments over the past TWO seasons!
Departed are former assistant and new Clovis West Head Coach, Ralph Garcia; former assistant and new Central Head Coach, Troy Tirapelle; former assistant and new Central assistant coach, Gabe Flores; and longtime assistant coach Scott Saxton. We wish all our former wrestlers and coaches continued success in their new endeavors and thank them for their years of service to the Clovis Wrestling program.
2010 CLOVIS VARSITY SCHEDULE
December 5th – The Grizz @ Central HS
December 11th & 12th – Clovis West Shootout & Ironman Tournament
December 18th & 19th – Zinkin Classic @ Buchanan HS
January 8th & 9th – Doc Buchanan @ Clovis HS
January 13th – CLOVIS EAST
January 20th – MADERA
January 21st – Temecula Valley
January 22nd & 23rd – Temecula Valley Invitational
January 27th – BUCHANAN
February 2nd – CENTRAL
February 5th & 6th – Mission San Jose Invitational
February 10th – CLOVIS WEST
February 13th – TRAC Championships @ Clovis HS
February 19th & 20th – Valley Championships @ Buchanan HS
February 27th – Central Section Masters Championships @ Lemoore HS
March 5th & 6th – California State Championships @ Rabobank Arena (Bakersfield, CA)
