By Mike Blake
The Kern Valley boys wrestling team brought five wrestlers to the Boys CIF Central Section Division IV Championships at Cesar Chavez High School in Delano, February 9-10. Competing against 27 schools and 280 wrestlers. Kern Valley was 25th with 18.0 points. Golden West won it with 188.5 points, followed by Reedley with 155.5 and Mt. Whitney with 151.0.
Senior Hunter Watts wrestled at 140 pounds and entered with a 10-9 record. Watts defeated Parlier’s Luis Romer (2-2) by a fall in 2:42 before losing to eventual gold medalist Francisco Lopez (22-14) of Golden West by a fall.
Senior Cameron Thomas wrestled at 146 pounds and entered with a 6-13 record. Thomas was defeated in the first round by St. Joseph’s Broncson Williams (10-10) on a 10-7 decision.
Freshman Charles Schmeiser wrestled at 128 pounds and entered with a 3-13 record. Schmeiser drew a bye in the first round and advanced to the second round vs. Reedley’s Daniel Baker (10-7) Baker won by a fall.
Sophomore Blake Baughman wrestled at 177 pounds and entered with a 8-14 record. Baughman advanced to the second round via a bye, and Caruthers’ Diego Taguada (21-11) by a fall.
Senior Ryan Prince wrestled at 192 pounds and entered with a 14-4 record. Prince was seeded into the second round, where he faced Tulare Western’s Damian Guerero (12-3). Guerrero won a hard-fought match on a late fall in 5:29.
The team wrestled with determination and competed hard in every match, giving it all on the mats.
