BRENTWOOD — The No. 15-ranked heavyweight in the state of California, Upper Lake High School senior Bradley Sneathen, pinned his first two opponents Monday in the opening rounds of the Lou Bronzan Invitational at Liberty High School in Brentwood.
Sneathen was one of four Upper Lake wrestlers out of nine entered to reach the second day of the competition, which concluded Tuesday.
“He really didn’t break a sweat,” Upper Lake head coach Brandon Sneathen said.
The No. 2 seed in the Lou Bronzan, Bradley Sneathen pinned both of his opponents in the first round to reach the quarterfinals.
“The No. 1 seed here beat him at the tournament he was at last week, so he might get another shot at him if they both reach the finals,” Sneathen said.
Also reaching the second day of the tournament was 106-pounder Damian Wurm, who pinned his second-round opponent after receiving a first-round bye.
“He’s got a pretty good shot at placing in the top eight,” Sneathen said of Wurm.
Medals are awarded to the top eight finishers in each weight class.
Donavan Fernandez went 2-1 at 126 pounds, winning his first match by technical fall, losing by decision in the second round, then winning by injury default in the consolation bracket.
Will Henry at 182 pounds went 1-1 on Monday, losing his first match but bouncing back with a second-round pin in the consolation bracket.
Seven of Upper Lake’s nine wrestlers had at least one win, but Sneathen said he was hoping for bretter.
“Yes and no,” Sneathen answered when asked if he was satisfied with the Cougars’ effort in the tournament’s early rounds. “The four guys who made it to day two, I was proud of what they did. The other made little mental mistakes that cost us big time. It was desperation wrestling and it just killed us.”
Upper Lake had eight wrestlers in action Tuesday — the four boys who made it to day two at the Lou Bronzan and four girls who are entered in the single-day Brittany David tournament at the same location.
