Phanthavong, 3 others qualify for section finals
In day two of the Divisional Tournament, two EYL wrestlers got revenge.
Granite Hills’ 135-pounder Micky Phanthavong and Monache’s 103-pounder Harley Davis each met up with their league rival, last Saturday, and each reversed the result.
Phanthavong and Ramirez upset upset the No. 3 and 5 seeds in the semifinals of the consolation bracket and met up in the finals with each having already qualified for the next round.
The fourth-seeded Phanthavong had to get past No. 3 seed (Clovis’ Alec Dieter). Dieter had Phanthavong down a point in the third period when the Grizzlies top grappler broke a hold and got a reversal to send the match to overtime. Phanthavong won in the extra period and awaited the winner of the Ramirez-Moses Quezeda semifinal match.
Quezeda, the No. 5 seed, had Ramirez, the 6, down two points in the third period before a violent collision left Quezeda out cold.
Since Quezeda was unable to continue, Ramirez got the win and a berth in the consolation finals.
Once in the finals, Phanthavong, who lost 6-5 to Ramirez in the EYL title match, won the rubber match (Phanthavong won in the teams’ duel in December) 4-2 to finish third in the tournament.
At 103 pounds, Davis faced Kevin Esquivel, who had beaten him 3-2 at the EYL Tournament, for the right to move on to the Section Tournament.
Davis also won the rubber match (Davis won 4-3 over the smallest Panther, Feb. 12) in convincing fashion, 7-0.
Davis finished sixth in the tournament with Esquivel narrowly missing the cut, finishing eighth.
Shane Yacuta, Porterville’s 130-pounder, advanced to the semifinals on the first day, but lost three straight matches to higher seeds finish sixth.
Phanthavong, Ramirez, Davis and Yacuta will wrestle at the Section Tournament at 9 a.m., Saturday, at East Bakersfield High School.
Monache senior 119-pounder Sam Orozco also missed the cut, finishing in seventh place, but will be the alternate and travel to Bakersfield in hopes a wrestler does not make weight.
If that happens, Orozco will continue his high school career.
Porterville’s 112-pounder Cesar Sanchez won’t be making a return trip to Bakersfield, as he finished in eighth place.
Monache’s James Reneau (145), Porterville’s Kevin Hulse (189) and Granite’s Jacob Cannon (215) were eliminated in the fourth round of the consolation bracket, ending their seasons as well.
Porterville finished in 16th place (68 points), Monache in 21st (56.5) and Granite in 37th with 37.5.
