Gilroy didn’t capture the California Interscholastic Federation state team championship in boys wrestling on Saturday night in Bakersfield, but the Mustangs celebrated more individual titles than anyone else.
The Central Coast Section powerhouse qualified five wrestlers for the finals among the 14 weight divisions, and all five won first-place medals.
That wasn’t enough to prevent Buchanan from winning its ninth boys team title. The Central Section heavyweight finished with 247.5 points despite having just one individual champion. Poway (240) took second and Gilroy (239) was third.
Gilroy had plenty to cheer about, though, as coach Daniel Cormier’s team piled up victories.
Isaiah Cortez beat Paris Ruiz of Buchanan by majority decision 9-0 at 126 pounds. In the next weight class, 132 pounds, Gilroy’s Moses Mendoza defeated Billy Townson of Poway 3-1.
Elijah Cortez won at 138 pounds, edging Jesse Grajeda of St. John Bosco 3-2.
Daniel Zepeda claimed the title at 150 pounds with a 5-3 win over Anderson’s Alias Raby.
Gilroy also won at 175 pounds as Tyler Eise beat Mason Ontiveros of Pitman 13-4.
On the girls’ side, Palo Alto freshman Ella Cohen, competing at 105 pounds, defeated Ava Fodera of Poway by fall at 5:20.
Clayton Valley took seventh in the girls team standings at 59.5 points and Gilroy was 10th at 52.