FRESNO — Selland Arena was the site of the 2012 USA Kids Folkstyle Wrestling State Championships this past weekend in Fresno and one Lake County participant brought home a coveted state title.
The competition drew 1,043 wrestlers from throughout the state, including eight members of the Punisher Wrestling Club in Clearlake, five of whom placed in the tournament.
Topping a strong showing by the Punisher club was Haley Kesterson, who pulled double duty by competing in both the 90-pound boys” and girls” Novice divisions. She won the latter division to win the state championship belt, pinning Gianna Mosqueda of the Pajaro Valley Rivercatz in the finals.
Taking home third-place honors was Austin Fredrickson in the 45-pound bantam division for 7- and 8-year-olds. He went 5-1 during the weekend, his only loss coming to the eventual state runner-up. He battled his way through the consolation bracket with four straight pins, pinning teammate Isaiah Rubio in the third-place match.
Rubio completed the weekend with a 5-2 record. He beat Jordan Quitugua from Team Orangevale Wrestling 2-0 in the consolation semifinals to reach the third-place match against teammate Fredrickson.
Another third-place finish went to Joseph Hughes, who wrestled in the 75-pound-plus bantam division. His only loss was to eventual state champion Raymond Montes of Team So Cal. Hughes went 3-1 in the tournament.
Fifth-place honors went to Blake Fredrickson, who wrestled in the 60-pound Novice division. He drew eventual state champion Patrick Sampson in the first round and lost by decision. Fredrickson rallied with three straight wins in the consolation bracket before losing in the consolation semifinals, which dropped him into the fifth-place match. Paired with Michael Bigler of Panther Wrestling Club, Fredrickson scored an 18-second pin, the fastest pin of the tournament for Punisher wrestlers.
Just missing out on the medal round was Damon Fielden, who went 3-2. Jonathan Fredrickson went 1-2 and Skyler Day also competed for the Punishers.
