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CV graduate Vizcaino earns wrestling scholarship to NAIA Division-II Bacone College
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Recent Central Valley grad Adrian Vizcaino will continue his education and wrestling career at Bacone College in Oklahoma. Vizcaino had a memorable career with the Hawks. Adrian qualified for the CIF State Meet once and won three Western Athletic Conference titles. - photo by DALE BUTLER/The Courier

Adrian Vizcaino earned a wrestling scholarship to Bacone College.

The 2014 Central Valley High School grad signed a national letter of intent with the NAIA Division-II school on June 16.

"I'm really happy," Adrian said. "I'm the first wrestler from Central Valley to get a scholarship. I had to work really hard. A lot of people helped me."

Bacone offered to pay for Vizcaino's first year of schooling if he finished in the top 50 percent of his graduating class at Central Valley.

Adrian posted a 3.6 grade-point average during his final semester.

Vizcaino's grades in English and economics/government were brought up to As and Bs, respectively.

"The coach put some requirements on him to be able to receive the scholarship," Central Valley wrestling head coach Rob Beckhart said. "He was extremely focused at the end of the year. I can't say enough about how hard he worked to make that happen. I know his mom (Sabrina) played a key role."

"I hit the books at home and didn't do anything else," Vizcaino added.

Vizcaino made history this past season by becoming Central Valley's first-ever state-meet qualifier in boys wrestling.

He won 34 of 50 matches on the year.

Adrian captured his third consecutive Western Athletic Conference title.

He placed fourth at Masters and second at Divisionals.

Vizcaino joined the Hawks' wrestling team as a freshman.

Adrian had a 116-55 career record.

"It makes me happy to know I'm that," said Vizcaino, Central Valley's all-time greatest male wrestler. "I was trying to do better than seniors from my freshman year. I could have done better if I worked harder. I'm going to try to push a lot harder and listen to a variety of people so I can succeed in my college career."

"I'm happy someone took an interest in him," Beckhart said. "He has the ability to compete at that level. He's determined. He's already started cutting weight. It's a great opportunity for him. I wish him the best."

Vizcaino planned to attend Modesto Junior College or join the Air Force prior to drawing interest from Bacone College.

"I got a letter from them and looked into it," Vizcaino said. "I toured the campus with my mom and met the coaches. I'm pretty excited. I want to experience a different style of wrestling. They have a really good criminal justice program. I have a lot of motivation."

Adrian has already started to cut weight for the 2014-15 campaign.

He trains up to three hours a day.

Vizcaino plans to compete at 170 pounds.

"Lately, I've been practicing four times a week," said Vizcaino, a 195-pounder. "I've been working out with coach Rob and the wrestling team. Before I go to Oklahoma, I want to be at 180 pounds and drop the rest there."
Adrian will relocate from California to Oklahoma on Aug. 15.

The new school year starts on Aug. 20.

"I heard it's a slower pace over there," Vizcaino said. "A lot of people think that's better for me. I'm excited to experience moving on by myself. I'm pretty nervous to see how it goes. I've always wanted to wrestle at a different level. Getting this scholarship makes me happy.

"It's a great opportunity for him to be able to go back there and wrestle," Beckhart said. "I'd like to see him as an All-American one day. I think he has the ability to do that. Hopefully, everything goes well."