Local wrestlers poised to compete for state titles

Bakersfield, Calif. — After 14 grueling weeks of weight-room sessions, weight cuts and nonstop grappling, 11 local competitors will open the CIF State Wrestling Championships at 9 a.m. Thursday inside Dignity Health Arena, each intent on turning a season of sacrifice into a podium finish.

American Canyon’s Aiyanna Beane leads the contingent, making her fourth straight state appearance and carrying the No. 2 seed in the girls 170-pound bracket. Beane, who earlier this winter became the Wolves’ first four-time state qualifier and first three-time section champion, will face Walnut’s Nicle Chavez in Thursday’s opening round. With more than 100 career victories already secured, the senior is focused on the one milestone still missing from her résumé.

“I think I’ve improved a lot in my wrestling with my aggressiveness,” Beane said in January. “I used to wait for others to make their move first, but now that’s me. I’m really good at blast double takedowns.”

Joining Beane from American Canyon is Lorenzo Seymore, who will battle Palma’s Jacob Martinez in the first round of the boys 190-pound division.

Vacaville High will arrive with the largest regional delegation—six boys and two girls—after every qualifier placed at least fifth at last weekend’s Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Championships in Stockton. Section champions Daniel Maranan (132) and Jenna Patzer (190) headline the group, while Brady Wight (190) and Ezra Cremo (HWT) each finished second.

“They just wrestled hard and believed in themselves,” Vacaville head coach Armando Orozco said. “They trusted their training.”

Returning state veterans Wight, Ethan Busby (122) and Kaelena Ahrens (122) will guide five first-time qualifiers that Orozco says “exceeded expectations” all season.

“Vacaville’s always been known for its heavyweights,” Orozco added. “They’re going to go to the state meet and they’re going to make some noise.”

Will C. Wood will send girls 145-pounder Abigail English-Reed to Bakersfield for the second consecutive year after she placed fourth at the masters tournament. The senior, already a member of the program’s 100-win club, has one glaring omission from the school’s wall of honor.

“We look at our names on the wall every year and she’s on every board except one, the California state placer,” first-year head coach John Petty said. “So that’s her goal this year, to get on that wall.”

Competition runs through Saturday night, leaving 11 local athletes three days to etch their names into California wrestling lore.