Wrestlers Fall Short of Goals

There was plenty of wait-until-next-year talk at the state wrestling finals Saturday at University of the Pacific.

But Chad Troxler and Cristobal Gonzalez didn’t want to hear it.

Troxler, a junior heavyweight from Simi Valley High, and Gonzalez, a junior competing at 189 pounds from Ventura, displayed their moves and muscles--and, perhaps, a preview of things to come--while wrestling their way to third-place finishes before about 5,000 at Spanos Center.

Troxler (49-6), who spent the two-day tournament laboring against tough opponents, won five bouts Saturday--all by one point and three by a score of 1-0, including a victory over Fred Aquitania of Fairfield in the medal match.

Gonzalez (50-1) rallied for two victories after losing in the semifinals to Andy Hunter of Hiram Johnson, 4-3. Gonzalez defeated Joshua Ready of Norco, 4-3, then finished the season with a 7-5 victory over Greg Brown-Davis of De La Salle.

Troxler entered the tournament ranked second in the state among heavyweights. Gonzalez was ranked third.

But both felt they had underachieved.

“I could have done better,” said Gonzalez, who advanced to the state meet last season but failed place in the top eight.

Said Troxler: “I would have liked to have been in the finals. It’s hard here. But I feel I’m right with those guys.”

Seniors Jacob Waasdorp of Quartz Hill (215 pounds) and Charles Sandlin of Camarillo (189), and junior Dustin Clocherty of Ventura (130) also earned medals by finishing among the top eight in their respective weight classes.

Sandlin (32-4), who lost in the semifinals to Danny Jackson of Kingsburg, 17-6, placed sixth after forfeiting the fifth-place final because of a sprained back muscle.

Waasdorp (56-5) finished fourth, losing to Mercedes Kinner of Del Mar, 4-3.

Waasdorp, however, earned a measure of revenge by defeating Josh Saul of Santa Ana Calvary Chapel, 6-5, earlier in the day. Saul, a junior, twice this season defeated Waasdorp, the last time in the Southern Section Masters Meet.

“So, it’s pretty satisfying,” Waasdorp said. “It’s a lot tougher up here than it was last year.”

Clocherty (50-11), who reached the quarterfinals Friday, finished eighth, losing to Tony Rosas of Clovis West, 4-2, in overtime in the seventh-place final.

Ventura’s Joe Martinez (52-8), a junior who advanced to the quarterfinals, was eliminated in his first bout Saturday, losing to Kinner, 6-2.

“I really didn’t know what to expect up here,” Martinez said. “I have it in the back of my mind about coming back next year.”