State

Last year's high five in prep wrestling

December 17, 2008 06:22 AM

Here are five big moments from last year's memorable wrestling season.

  1. Central Catholic senior Louis Bland closes out one of the state's top wrestling careers by winning his third state championship. He was a state runner-up as a junior.
  • Oakdale senior Rudi Burtschi locked down his second consecutive state title, capping a, undefeated season with a championship at 215 pounds.
  • Behind Bland's state championship and state runner-up finishes by Steven Vasquez and Dominic Galas, Central Catholic placed third as a team.
  • Turlock freshman Fabian Garcia — decked out with pink hair for the occasion — became the first freshman in school history to medal when he took seventh.
  • Because Stockton Arena was unavailable, the Sac-Joaquin Section moved its wrestling championships to the University of the Pacific — the former site of the state championships — for the next two years. The tournament went off without a hitch as coaches said they could feel the ghosts in the venerable venue.

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