WINDSOR >> Punisher Wrestling of Lower Lake shifted into high gear this weekend as 20 of its members participated in the Windsor Tournament of Champions qualifier on Saturday at Windsor High School. Approximately 400 wrestlers from kindergarten through eighth grade were in action.
The Punishers came away with seven first-place medals. Mario Cuellar went 4-0 in the 90-pound junior varsity bracket, Mason Roath posted a 4-0 mark in the 67-pound division for third- through fifth-graders, Arturo Gudino went 3-0 in the 40-pound division for those in kindergarten through the second grade, Aiden Dancer won all three of his matches in the kindergarten though second-grade bracket, Lexi Peregrina went undefeated in her girls’ division with a 3-0 record, Adam Viramontes scored a technical fall over longtime opponent Michael Freitas to win his weight class, and Carter Rudolph finished first in the kindergarten through second-grade division.
Dancer and Peregrina also brought home second-place medals. Dancer wrestled up a division and was the runner-up in the 65-pound weight class for those in the third through fifth grades. Peregrina, competing against only boys, went 2-1.
Other second-place medals went to Travis Boyles in the 50-pound division for wrestlers in kindergarten through the second grade. Boyles participated in the one of the day’s most exciting matches when he faced longtime rival Christian Perez of USA Gold in the championship match. The two battled to a 7-7 tie in regulation before Perez beat Boyles with a takedown in overtime, the crowd on its feet as the match unfolded.
Jayden Roath, Cisco Howland and Hayden Fowler also came away with second-place medals.
Third-place medals went to Austin Fredrickson in the 70-pound varsity division and to Nick Celli, whose only loss came to teammate Mason Roath.
Jonathan Fredrickson finished fourth in the varsity 70-pound weight class.
Competing but not medaling were Trevor Wilson, Kenya Atrisco, Myles Conatser, Keygan Hoyal and Evan Jackson.
Next up for the Punishers is one of the state’s toughest tournaments, the annual Valentine’s Day Massacre on Sunday in Vacaville. A field of 425 wrestlers from throughout the state is expected.
