CIF Wrestling

This past weekend, the Aztec wrestling team competed at the CIF Southern section Central Division Championships at Palm Springs high school to have a chance at qualifying for Masters. The Aztecs sent 8 wrestlers to this qualifying tournament out of the possible 14. Five wrestlers qualified for the second day of the tournament: Isaiah Ramirez, Juaquari Hobbs, Riley Garrett, Isaiah Shoemake, and Jacob Shoemake. Isaiah Shoemake did not make weight the second day of the tournament. Jacob Shoemake, and Riley Garrett did not make it to the medal rounds to qualify for Masters. Isaiah Ramirez was #1 seed but had a disappointing performance in the finals, taking second place. Juaquari Hobbs was the #4 seed and found himself in the blood round, the 5th place match. The blood round is the match to qualify for Masters; you win you go forward, you lose and your season ends. Juaquari got caught in a big move in the first period and got pinned, marking the end of a great season by him. Juaquari took 6th. The only wrestlers that goes on to Masters the next weekend is Isaiah Ramirez, who is currently the 15th ranked wrestler in the state. Senior Isaiah Ramirez said,”I’m excited for this weekend. Masters is a very tough tournament filled with outstanding wrestlers and only the toughest place and move on to place. I’ve done it twice before and I’m excited to do some damage this year and end my high school career off with no regrets.” Other wrestlers that qualified for CIF were Damian Soto, Angel Davis, and Joshua Hill O’Neil. Tune in to next week to hear the results and comments of our Aztec wrestlers.