SACRAMENTO — Six of nine Upper Lake High School wrestlers survived Friday”s opening rounds and made it through to day two of the Foothill Invitational Tournament in Sacramento.
“Two years ago we had two guys make it to the second day and that”s the most we”ve had until today,” Upper Lake coach Tom Cox said of yet another record set by the school”s wrestling program this season. “The only guy we”ve ever had medal here was Rob Avery four years ago. He finished third.”
The 100-team tournament, which wraps up today, awards medals down to eight places in each weight division. Two of those weight divisions — 134 pounds and 140 pounds — have Cougars in the quarterfinals. Ward Beecher is 3-0 at 134 pounds following Friday”s action and Travis Coleman is 3-0 at 140 pounds.
“They did a great job,” Cox said of his two quarterfinalists. “This is one tough tournament.”
Still alive in the consolation bracket are Tony Lopez, who is 4-1 at 108 pounds; Bruce Tucker, who is 2-1 at 154 pounds; Bradley Brackett, who is 2-1 at 162 pounds; and Jon Karlsson, who is 2-1 in the heavyweight division.
Not qualifying for day two but winning at least one match each were Joey Valdez, 3-2 at 222 pounds; Nick Davison, 2-2 at 147 pounds; and Zeke Mendoza, 1-2 at 115 pounds. One of Mendoza”s losses was to the top-ranked 115-pounder in the country.
