Buhach Colony’s Mendoza leads 4 local wrestlers into Masters semis

Buhach Colony’s Brandon Mendoza didn’t need a scouting report to prepare for his quarterfinal match against Oakdale’s Jake Abeyta during Friday’s Sac-Joaquin Section Masters tournament.

Abeyta ended Mendoza’s season with a loss at the same meet last year and they split their two matches earlier this season.

“I knew it would be a close match,” Mendoza said. “I knew I had to go out and not give up points and score my points.”

One point was all Mendoza needed as he earned an escape 30 seconds into the second period and it stood up for a 1-0 victory to clinch a spot in Saturday’s semifinals and earn Mendoza a berth in the state tournament next week.

“It’s a pretty crazy experience,” Mendoza said. “I’ve been working hard all year and I really picked it up since the league tournament. I’ve been lifting a lot and running on my own. I want it pretty bad.”

Abeyta ended Mendoza’s bid for state last year and defeated Mendoza 4-3 earlier this season at the James Riddle Invitational in Oakdale. Mendoza answered with a 3-1 win at the Lloyd Engel Tournament at Escalon.

“I knew he’d be strong and he wasn’t going to give any openings because the last two times I took him down first,” Mendoza said. “I knew I was going to have to work hard to get good positioning and work hard on top.”

Mendoza will face top seed Jacob Seto of Elk Grove in the semifinals.

Mendoza pinned Livingston’s John Maldonado early in the third period in his first match on Friday and then defeated Ripon’s Donovan Fontillas 6-1.

Also reaching the semifinals are Livingston’s Rajanvir Chahal (106 pounds) and Jose Sanchez (120).

Chahal pinned all three of his opponents on Friday, including Woodland’s Eduardo Velasco 1 minute and 42 seconds into their quarterfinal match.

“I wanted to work my offense first,” the Livingston senior said. “I’m really tough on top.”

Chahal needed just 6 seconds to score on a takedown. He extended the lead to 5-0 with three near-fall points before earning the pin.

“I was elevating his elbow and I bumped him with my hip to get the pin,” Chahal said. “I’m pretty confident going into tomorrow. My goal is to get first. I think I can do it.”

Sanchez clinched his trip to Bakersfield next week and Saturday’s semifinals with an 8-4 win over Oakdale’s Cody Williams. Sanchez defeated Golden Valley’s Daniel Carlin 14-4 in the opening round and Tokay’s Trenton Edalgo 10-3 in the second round.

Delhi junior Jesse Flores (285) became the first wrestler in school history to qualify for state with a 3-0 win over Elk Grove’s Lau Ta’amu in the quarterfinals.

“Oh man, I’m so happy,” Flores said. “I’ve made it to this tournament three years in a row. I finished one point short of making state last year. This year I finally made it.”

Flores rode Ta’amu out from on top in the second period to keep the match scoreless. Flores then took a 1-0 lead early in the third period with an escape. He sealed the match with a late takedown.

“I felt so much relief after getting that takedown,” Flores said. “I knew that was the match.”

Golden Valley’s Jacob Pavey reached the quarterfinals, but dropped a 4-0 decision to Ponderosa’s Kyle Jennings. Pavey surrendered all four points in the second period.

Pavey will drop down into the consolation bracket with seven other members of the local contingent still fighting. They must must win two matches Saturday to clinch a top six spot to earn a state berth.

This story was originally published February 26, 2016 at 8:03 PM with the headline "Buhach Colony’s Mendoza leads 4 local wrestlers into Masters semis."