BAKERSFIELD — When Poway High School won the boys state wrestling championship a year ago, a 10-for-10 sweep in the quarterfinals was the key.
It didn’t happen that way this year.
The Titans could only push through six of their 10 quarterfinalists through on Day 2 of the State Wrestling Championships at Mechanics Bank Arena.
Despite that, they still find themselves holding a narrow lead.
Poway has 162 points heading into the final day of the state meet, 9½ more than second-place Clovis Buchanan. Gilroy is in third place with 143 points and Bellflower St. John Bosco, who took a lead early in the day, is fourth with 141.5.
“I didn’t look at it all day long,” Poway coach John Meyers said, “but when Coach (Stephen) Neal just told me we were in the lead, I couldn’t believe it. I thought we would need eight or nine (to advance to semifinals) to stay ahead.”
Of the six quarterfinalists to advance, none was bigger than the fourth-seeded Arseni Kikiniou’s 2-1 ultimate tie-breaking escape to win at 144 pounds over third-seeded Victor-Alexander Gutierrez of Modesto Central Catholic.
“It was tough, but I knew what I needed to do to get out,” Kikiniou said. “Actually, I don’t think we should have even gotten there. I wasn’t finishing my shots.”
Kikiniou, who was a 106-pound finalist a year ago, will face top-seeded Nikade Zinkin of Clovis in the semifinals.
Another San Diego Section wrestler needed a big late move to get into the semifinals. Granite Hills 138-pounder Ames-Michael Hoevker scored a takedown over Fountain Valley’s Vinnie Gutierrez late in the third period to score a 5-3 decision.
“It was 3-2 going into the third period and I knew I had to score and ride him out,” said Hoevker. “I wasn’t too surprised. I work my butt off. I like the term GIG — Grind is Great.”
On the girls’ side, two powerful San Diegans clashed in the 140-pound quarterfinals.
Granite Hills’ Lucia Ledesma came through with a late reversal to edge Poway’s Xiomara Gallego 2-0. Both were state medalists a year ago.
“I love the energy and hard work among us,” said Ledesma of the San Diego 140-pound contingent, which includes top-seeded Mary Snider of Rancho Bernardo who also earned a spot in the semifinals. “I have a lot of respect for everybody.”
Eight girls advanced to the semifinals. Others included Poway’s Ava Fodera (105), San Marcos’ Briana Ross (115), Olympians Vana Victroia (130), Torrey Pines’ Ruby Julien-Newsom (130), Brawley’s Lauren Zaragoza (135), and Mira Mesa’s Angel Hill (235). They are ed by nine other local girls still alive in the consolations.
Poway’s girls slipped to seventh in the team race with 39.5 points. Covina Northview leads with 51 points, with Clovis East second at 44.5.
