BAKERSFIELD, CA.– The good times continue for the Rancho Bernardo wrestling squad. Three Broncos won their quarterfinal matches Friday at the 2020 CIF Individual Wrestling Championships, advancing to semifinal competition on Saturday at Mechanics Bank Arena.
The trio – Jaden Le, Tyler Badgett, and Javen Jovero – gives Rancho Bernardo three state semifinalists for the first time. The Broncos are becoming a school with a great wrestling tradition.
The Bronco's other state qualifiers were defeated in the consolation rounds but helped the Broncos to a 9th place finish after two sessions in the team standings.
Le, who was seeded # 3 at 145-pounds, recorded three falls to advance to the quarterfinal round and defeat Sac-Joaquin Section Champion Ceasar Garza (Oakdale) 3-0. Le will face section rival Aaron Gandara (Poway). Gandara defeated Le 3-1 at the finals of the San Diego section with a late takedown.
Badgett was able to pin state place winner Noah Cortez (Dinuba) in the quarterfinal round to advance to the semifinal round. With the score 2-1 in favorite of Cortez, Badgett was able to reverse him and put him on his back for the fall. Badgett outscored the competition 22-2. The Bronco senior will have a rematch with Sonny Santiago (St. John Bosco). Santiago defeated Badgett in the state finals last year and he is 2-0 against him this season.
Junior Jovero won in overtime over Sac-Joaquin Section Champion Kodiak Stephens (Bret Harte). Jovero became a two-time state place winner and he was eighth last year at the state tournament. Jovero will face a familiar opponent in Joe Curtis (La Costa Canyon). Curtis defeated Jovero in the section finals.