Troquato makes his case at Masters

PONDEROSA'S Nick Troquato has his arm raised after winning his weight class at last weekend's Masters Tournament in Stockton. Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene

STOCKTON — For a second consecutive week, Ponderosa High wrestler Nick Troquato faced Franklin’s Joey Banks. This time the stakes were bigger.

In Saturday’s 182-pound championship match at the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Wrestling Tournament at the Stockton Arena, Troquato’s 7-3 decision of Banks was his second straight over the Wildcat after last week’s win in the finals at the section’s D-IA tournament in Turlock.

The victory earned Troquato a second consecutive trip to Bakersfield to compete at the CIF State Wrestling Tournament at Rabobank Arena, joining five El Dorado County high school grapplers who also qualified.

Troquato produced a perfect 5-0 record during the two-day Masters tournament. The top seven in each weight class advances to Bakersfield.

After a scoreless first period, Troquato used an escape, reversal and takedown for a 5-1 lead. Banks rallied to within 5-3 but Troquato recorded a takedown for the final two points.

No changes were made in defeating Banks this time, Troquato said.

“He’s a tough dude, so I tried to wrestle him smart,” Troquato said. “Wait for my shots, my openings and capitalize on those.”

In the semifinals, Troquato posted a 9-1 win over Monterey Trail’s Marion Ward. Friday, Troquato opened by pinning Tokay’s Austin Mitchell in 46 seconds, followed with another pin over Escalon’s AJ Camerena at 4:35 and capped the first day with an 11-1 decision over Ceres’ Reggie Bland.

Oak Ridge’s Keaton Subjeck (172) was the only other county grappler in the finals but he lost a 10-0 major decision to Oakmont’s Peter Santos. Santos’ first takedown set the tone in their second match of the season, having met earlier at the Tim Brown Memorial in Sacramento.

To reach the finals, Subjeck pinned Escalon’s Jonathon Costa in 1:24 in the semifinals. Previously, Subjeck pinned Modesto’s Cody Hall, 1:49; followed by taking down Tokay’s Jakob Schallberger at 1:12 and posted a 21-3 technical fall over Amador’s Zach Wilsey.

The other four wrestlers to advance are: Ponderosa’s Trey Providence (152) and Jeff Camilli (285), who each took third while Oak Ridge brothers of Zach (182) and Brandon (138) Clairborne advance as sixth and seventh place finishers, respectively.

Providence appeared to have pinned Gregori’s Latrell Benjamin in their last match but the referees wouldn’t blow the whistle. In the second period, Providence recorded a takedown and won, 3-1.

“I had the legs in, I was turning him,” Providence said. “The ref said I didn’t hold him down long enough. In the end, I was trying to play it safe. He did what he could, but I kept stalling”

The third place finish was very gratifying for Providence, who posted a 1-2 record at last year’s Masters.

“I just want to keep going up,” Providence said.

Providence lost to Argonaut’s Zack Velasquez by a 2-1 decision in the semifinals but won his three Friday matches: pinning Granite Bay’s Matt Berry at 4:30; pinning Ceres’ Lhiel Dillard at 4:02 and posting a 15-5 major decision over West’s Rogelio Bravo.

In his semis match, Camilli lost to Elk Grove’s Jaharee Taylor by a 2-1 decision. On Friday, Camilli pinned Downey’s Jesus Anuiano at 3:12; pinned Beyer’s Jorge Estrada and ended the day by defeating Oak Ridge’s Jacob Proul 4-1. Proul was 2-2 at the Masters.

Zach Clairborne went 3-0 on Friday but came back Satirday and lost to Banks by major decision, 10-2. Competing for fifth place, Zach forfeited his match to Ward because of a shoulder injury that won’t prevent him from competing at the state meet.

Brandon Clairborne, only a freshman, posted a 17-0 technical fall over Woodland’s Eric Richards to finish the tourney with a 4-2 record. Brandon recorded a pin and technical fall to start Friday but lost by decision in his third match.

Ponderosa’s Tyler Shamblin (145) won his first two but fropped the next two. Bruin Colin Hustrulid (132) went 1-2 at the Masters.

Two county grapplers faced off in the consolation brackets Friday. Oak Ridge’s Sherman Mc Vey (220) posted a 6-4 win that eliminated Ponderosa’s Henry Sharoyan. Mc Vey was eliminated in the next round.

Oak Ridge’s Ali Atebar (160) posted a 2-2 record on Friday as did Golden Sierra’s Patrick Lewis (120). Trojans Josh Pluke (106) and Ryan Redhair (132) joined Golden Sierra’s Brian Agee (160) and Ponderosa’s Kyle Jennings (195) with 1-2 records.

County grapplers who lost their first two matches on Friday at the double-elimination tourney were Oak Ridge’s Kevan Cryan (152), Ponderosa’s Joshua Ferry (160), El Dorado’s Alex LaBaron (182) and Oak Ridge’s Bishane Segal (195).

Two Bruins who qualified for the Masters but didn’t compete were Christian Canepa (138) and Jimmy Scarr (126).

As a team, Ponderosa finished in seventh place with 86 points and Oak Ridge was 10th with 71 points.

Contact Mike Bush at 530-344-5079 or mbush@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @MBushMtDemo on Twitter. 

Mike Bush

Mike Bush has been working at the Mountain Democrat since August 2011. Mike is the Sports Writer and Features Writer.

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