Record-setting weekend for Folsom wrestlers

It was a record-breaking weekend for Folsom High's wrestling team and what a weekend to do it while competing in the Division I section tournament. For starters, the Bulldogs won the tournament for the second straight year, and in doing so, for the first time not only qualified all 14 wrestlers to the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Championships, but all 14 placed in the top-four spots of the tournament. On the girls side, Folsom's girls took second in the Northern Regional tournament, its highest place ever, and qualified five girls for Masters, so the Bulldogs will have 19 wrestlers competing at the Masters Tournament on Friday and Saturday. Folsom also likely set two other records, as they had seven wrestlers win weight classes and had 11 finalists. On the girls side, Folsom qualified five of its nine competitors with four girls reaching the finals and three winning their weight class. Not only did three girls win regional titles, but they got it done in spectacular fashion. Pia Hill (100) was the most dominant, as she won all five of her matches with pins in the first period, finishing in the finals with a 42-second pin. Scott (120) also scored bonus points in all of her matches, as she scored two pins and two major decisions before earning a forfeit in the finals. Ollinger (130) arguably had the best tournament since she wasn't supposed to win the 130-pound bracket, but she did. Ollinger was seeded third, but beat the No. 2 seed from Nevada Union in the semis before beating the top-seed from Del Oro, 9-5, in the finals, a girl she had lost to twice earlier this season. Leanna Remington (105) took second in her weight class, as she had three pins on the day. Kaileia McFarland (115) finished sixth; after losing her first match she came all the way through the consolation bracket. Jalissa Lopez (110) will be an alternate at 110 pounds, as she placed ninth by winning four of her six matches. On the boys' side, Folsom avenged its regular season loss to Del Oro as the Sierra Foothill League champions, and instead took first place at divisionals, as they outscored the Golden Eagles 304-292 to win its second straight section tournament. "To have the entire lineup qualify for masters is no easy feat," Folsom High coach Mike Collier said. "All the boys stepped up to place in the top-four and set themselves up in good position for next week." Eight Bulldogs reached the finals and four came away as champions. Kingston Cruzat (106) took out the highest-ranked opponent, as he beat the eighth-ranked wrestler in the state, 7-3. Folsom won three straight finals bouts at 132, 138 and 144, all in rematches from last week's league championships. Anthony Cruz (132) won with a dominant 16-0 technical fall. "Anthony looks to be wrestling his best at the most important time, as he finished the day with a major decision, two pins and a tech in a weight class that featured five state-ranked wrestlers," Collier said. Orion Hill (138), like his sister Pia, was perfect on the day with three first-period pins, including a pin over a state qualifier a year ago from Whitney in the finals. Kai Yi-Berg (144) overcame a big deficit to reach the finals, where he avenged a loss last week to a Del Oro wrestler with a 15-3 major decision victory. "That swing match all but sealed the team championship," Collier said. Lennox Cruzat, wrestling up a weight class at 113, had a great tournament, as he took second, beating the tenth-ranked wrestler in the state from Elk Grove in the semis before losing in the finals. "Lennox is giving up size and strength to every opponent, but his technique and will to win put him in the finals," Collier said. Grant Martinez (150), also took second place after finishing third in last week's league tournament. Kayden Hoang (165) also finished second for the Bulldogs, but had a big win in the semis, pinning a returning state qualifier and state-ranked wrestler from Tracy. Freshman Rocky Ortiz (215) also placed second, as he avenged a defeat to an Oak Ridge wrestler last week by beating him 15-5 in the semis. Folsom had six other wrestlers reach the consolation finals. Phuc Nguyen (157), placed sixth last week at the league tournament, but won five of six matches this weekend to take third. Folsom had five other wrestlers place fourth: Logan Hara (120), Max Wong (126), Sean Ramos (175), Chid Mmagu (190) and Colin Graham (275). "We were so happy for these kids who were basically one match away from winning a league and section duals championship, so it was nice to see it all come together this week," Collier said. "Many turned in their top performances of the season, avenged prior losses, and we hope they can carry this momentum of a Section Championship into the Masters tournament this next weekend." A top-five finish at Masters next weekend will earn wrestlers a trip to the state tournament. Folsom is one of only four teams to qualify every wrestler to Masters along with Oakdale, Pitman and Vacaville.