Mann Classic
Where: Marina High School
When: Friday and Saturday
What You Should Know
Nearly 50 elite high school teams will be wrestling this weekend at the Mann Classic at Marina High. The field will be led by # 1 Buchanan High, the No. 3 ranked team in the country according to Flo Wrestling. Servite, Fountain Valley, Calvary Chapel, and Villa Park will attempt to put a stop to Buchanan’s domination of scholastic wrestling in the golden state.
Wrestlers to Watch
Max Wilner (Fountain Valley) – The Arizona State recruit was third at the CIF state tournament as a sophomore last year. He has a lot of national experience as he is a two-time NHSCA champion and was also a titlist at the 2018 USAW Preseason Nationals. He is currently ranked No. 2 in the latest state rankings.
Andrew Sparks (Calvary Chapel/SA) – The uprising senior was a state qualifier last year where he was a match from placing at 152-pounds. He recently won the La Costa Canyon tournament where he either tech or pin every opponent he faced. In the finals, he destroyed an Arizona state champion by putting 16 points on the board.
Yoshiya Funakoshi (West Torrance) – Funakoshi was the South Coast wrestler of the year as he placed seventh at the state tournament as a freshman. Now up a couple of weight classes, we should see how well he adjust to competing against bigger opponents.
Carlos Negrete Jr. (Buchanan) – Negrete is a hardnose grappler that has been in the finals of the CIF state tournament in the last two seasons. Only a junior, Negrete will look to win the first individual state title of his career. He is currently 5-0 after winning the Bakersfield Rumble for the Rig tournament last weekend.
Joseph Martin (Buchanan) – Only a sophomore for the Bears, Martin looked great at the Rumble for the Rig tournament last weekend as he pinned a state medalist to win his first tournament of the season. What makes his story unique was the fact that in October, he was wrestling at 160-pounds at the Super 32 tournament. Nowadays, he is wrestling in the 182-weight class and dominating the competition with ease.
49th Annual El Cajon Invitational
Where: San Ysidro High
When: Friday and Saturday
What You Should Know
The field features 54 teams from three states from the West Coast and boasts many individuals who wrestled at their respective state tournaments. The field will be highlighted by # 9 Rancho Bernardo High which will feature two # 2 ranked wrestlers in the state in Jaden Le (145) and Javen Jovero (182) while state finalist Tyler Badgett (152) is ranked # 3.
Wrestlers to Watch
Jaden Le (Rancho Bernardo) – The Columbia commit will attempt this season in becoming Rancho Bernardo’s third individual state champion in their school’s history. He recently competed at the Liberty tournament in Arizona, where he finished with a 9-0 record with nine falls! No one went pass the third period.
Tyler Badgett (Rancho Bernardo) – After two attempts to place at the state tournament, Badgett was successful last year and placed second to the # 1 ranked wrestler in the country in Sonny Santiago. This season, he is more determined than ever to gain a state title before he leaves for Virginia and begins competing for Old Dominion.
Carlo Castagnaro (Cienega) – Castagnaro is a two-time Arizona Division II state place winner and a state finalist. He placed fifth last year in this event but will try and move on the podium and take an individual title back to Arizona.
Javen Jovero (Rancho Bernardo) – Jovero is on course to become Rancho Bernardo's second three-time state place winner at the conclusion of his scholastic career. He competed at the Liberty tournament in Arizona and was awarded the upper weights MVP honor.
Marcos Jimenez (Evergreen) – Jimenez is a senior that has advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF state tournament the past two seasons. He is also a very technical wrestler and it showed at Fargo as he was an All-American in Greco-Roman.
Hawks Nest Tournament
Where: Citrus Hill High
When: Friday and Saturday
What You Should Know
Year in and year out, this southern California tournament pulls in some of the best talent from the San Bernardino and Inland county. Leading this year’s 51-team field is Selma High School, which begins the season ranked No. 4 in the state. Temecula Valley and Palm Desert should give the Bears a challenge this weekend.
Wrestlers to Watch
Richard Figueroa (Selma) – The junior is considered by all his peers as the # 1 P4P wrestler in California. A two-time state champion, Figueroa has yet to lose to a California opponent during the high school season. He is coming off from winning the La Costa Canyon tournament competing up a weight class.
Jacob Rivera (Selma) – A sixth-place finisher at state at 120-pounds, Rivera made heavy waves during the pre-season as he cruised to the finals of the Super 32 tournament and defeated various opponents ranked in the country. Now ranked # 3 in the nation, we could see an all Selma finals between him and Figueroa.
Tristan Lujan (Selma) – Lujan had a great season last year that saw him win an individual title for the Bears. He was fourth at the Super 32 tournament and an NHSCA champion during 2018.
Gabriel Schumm (Citrus Hill) – The rising junior is up a few weight classes after having advanced to the state tournament and finishing in the blood round. He is currently 10-0 with two tournament titles under his belt.
Beau Mantanona (Palm Desert) – Mantanona is one of the top freshmen in California this season. He had a great summer that saw become a double Fargo All-American. He comes from a wrestling family as both his elder brothers are currently competing in college.