CLOVIS — Punisher Wrestling of Clearlake took six of its top wrestlers to the CA SCWAY State Championships this past weekend in Clovis and achieved some amazing results.
Five placed in the competition, four reached the finals in a tournament that drew nearly 1,000 of the top junior wrestlers in the state, and one, Jonathan Fredrickson, won a state title in the 45-pound division for 8-and-under competitors. The spoils of Fredrickson”s 2-0 victory over teammate Bryan Gudino in the finals included a 5-inch medal, a state championship singlet, a state championship jacket and an All-State plaque.
Gudino beat Noah Gallardo of the San Jacinto Wrestling Club 3-0 in the semifinals to earn a spot in the finals against Fredrickson.
Also taking second was Blake Fredrickson in the 60-pound division for 11- and 12-year-olds. He beat Cameron Richards of Gold Mine Wrestling Club 19-4 in the semifinals and lost to defending state champion Patrick Samson by decision in the finals.
Damon Fielden reached the finals in the 65-pound division for 11- and 12-year-olds, losing to Antonio Lorenzo of Crazy Wolf by pin.
The fifth placer for the Punishers was Joseph Hughes, who took sixth in the 84-pound division for 7- and 8-year-olds.
Punisher wrestlers have won state titles in back-to-back tournaments and now have five in the last two years. The team also placed 10th out of 54 in Clovis despite suiting up only six wrestlers.
Punisher wrestlers will compete in the Reno World Championships in three weeks.
