Ceres Hawks youth wrestling club members Keegan Overbey and Gabriel Balderas gained some valuable experience last month at the Kids/Cadet Freestyle State Championships.
Held June 6-8 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, the prestigious event featured 1,700-plus competitors. Approximately 24 mats were used.
"They both did very well for their first time at a big tournament," assistant coach Gabe Balderas said. "The boys they lost to placed."
"It was amazing," Overbey said. "It was crowded as heck. It was hard to find a seat."
Keegan placed ninth in a field of 24 with a 2-2 record in the Cadet Boys 130-pound division.
He fell one win shy of advancing to the medal portion of the tournament.
"I'm pleased with what he did considering how many boys were out there and the competition," Gabe said. "He wrestled hard and didn't give up."
Overbey opened the tournament with wins against Stevyn Teeple (4-3, 9-7) and Nolen Kajiwara (6-0, 4-2).
He lost by technical fall to Sonny Perez (8-2, 8-0) and pin to Arthur Chavira (1:49).
Perez, Chavira and Teeple placed first, third and seventh, respectively.
"I think I could have done a lot better," Keegan said. "The second day I was just thinking too much about things."
Gabriel Jr. posted an 0-2 record in the Schoolboy Boys 77-pound division.
He lost via technical fall to Mason Pengily (7-0, 6-0) and Jacob Macalolooy (7-1, 7-0). Pengily and Macalolooy placed third and sixth, respectively.
"He did really well," Gabe said. "He fought the whole way."
Held June 6-8 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, the prestigious event featured 1,700-plus competitors. Approximately 24 mats were used.
"They both did very well for their first time at a big tournament," assistant coach Gabe Balderas said. "The boys they lost to placed."
"It was amazing," Overbey said. "It was crowded as heck. It was hard to find a seat."
Keegan placed ninth in a field of 24 with a 2-2 record in the Cadet Boys 130-pound division.
He fell one win shy of advancing to the medal portion of the tournament.
"I'm pleased with what he did considering how many boys were out there and the competition," Gabe said. "He wrestled hard and didn't give up."
Overbey opened the tournament with wins against Stevyn Teeple (4-3, 9-7) and Nolen Kajiwara (6-0, 4-2).
He lost by technical fall to Sonny Perez (8-2, 8-0) and pin to Arthur Chavira (1:49).
Perez, Chavira and Teeple placed first, third and seventh, respectively.
"I think I could have done a lot better," Keegan said. "The second day I was just thinking too much about things."
Gabriel Jr. posted an 0-2 record in the Schoolboy Boys 77-pound division.
He lost via technical fall to Mason Pengily (7-0, 6-0) and Jacob Macalolooy (7-1, 7-0). Pengily and Macalolooy placed third and sixth, respectively.
"He did really well," Gabe said. "He fought the whole way."
