Wrestling 49: California

As the wrestling season's start is fast approaching, InterMat will be taking fans across the United States of America on a tour of scholastic wrestling. Between now until the middle of November, InterMat will introduce you to the top senior wrestlers in the 49 states with scholastic wrestling. From Alaska to Florida, and from Maine to California, you will gain exposure to the potential stars of future NCAA Championships.

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The Class of 2010 is loaded with a very competitive group of seniors, perhaps one of the more talented to set foot on the mat in first decade of the new millennium. At the national level, this group has performed very well among the elite states at the Cadet & Junior Nationals in Fargo and the NHSCA Nationals, producing 19 All-Americans overall. Two wrestlers enter the season with three state medals vying for their fourth ... and six are in position to earn their third. Once again, the Central Valley is well represented with the Clovis/Fresno area claiming nine of the 14 returning state medals in the section. In addition, the Central Valley also produces six of the top 10 preseason teams in the state, which include Clovis, Clovis West, Buchanan of Clovis, Bakersfield, and Selma. Other teams to watch include, defending state team champions Poway (San Diego Section), Gilroy , Oakdale , Lemoore , and Calvary Chapel of Santa Ana. I look forward to this season not only for the individual talent, but the team race too.

Leading this talented group of seniors is returning state champion Jesse Delgado from Gilroy High School in the Central Coast Section. Along with his state title, he has placed third twice and is in position to earn a rare fourth California state medal, a feat that has only been accomplished by nineteen other wrestlers since 1973. Moreover, Delgado has earned All-American honors twice at Fargo and is an NHSCA Nationals champion.

Following Delgado is Ohio product Tucker Armstrong (Corona Del Mar High School), a returning Ohio state champion, two-time Cadet and NHSCA Junior Nationals All-American. Tucker enters the season rated among the top wrestlers in the country and will challenge for a title in California.

Next is returning state champion Cody Rodebaugh from Felton's San Lorenzo Valley High School in the Central Coast Section. With the potential to be rated among the top light middleweights in the country this year, Rodebaugh opened a lot of eyes last season when he defeated nationally ranked Vlad Dombrovskyy of Natomas in the semifinals at state. If Armstrong and Rodebaugh happen to be in the same weight come state, it would be worth the price of admission to see this match-up.

The most decorated middleweight in California is three-time state medalist and NHSCA Nationals champion James Cook from Madera High School in the Central Valley. Along with Delgado, Cook is in position to earn a rare fourth state medal and will challenge for his first state title. Other talented middleweights include returning state finalist Martin Fabbian of Buchanan, Vacaville's Adam Delagarza (returning state medalist and NHSCA Nationals champion), and Foothill's Travis Gallegos, a returning state medalist and NHSCA All-American.

The final three of the top ten seniors in California include Zach Zimmer (Clovis West), Drew Muelman (St. Francis-Mountain View), and Bryan Grubbs from La Costa Canyon in Carlsbad. Rated among the top lightweights in California and the country, Zimmer enters this season in pursuit of his third state medal and has great potential to win it all. In addition to his achievements at state, he is a two-time Cadet and NHSCA Nationals All-American. Leading the heavyweights is two-time state placer and three-time All-American Drew Muelman of St. Francis High School in Mountain View. Moving up to heavyweight from 215 pounds last year, he is the favorite to win the state title. Returning to California after winning the Texas State Championships is Bryan Grubbs from La Costa Canyon. Prior to moving to Texas for a season, Grubbs placed third at California state his sophomore year and earned NHSCA Nationals All-American honors. With his return, the 125-pound weight group has become even tougher.

On a final note, I expect the California State Championships to be a barnburner this season and am confident that our top seniors in California will do very well on the national stage, which include the high-caliber tournaments such as Walsh Ironman, Reno TOC, and post season NHSCA Nationals.

While compiling this list, it was very difficult for me to pick the top 10 in California because many of wrestlers listed below are very close in talent. In my opinion, many of the kids listed in the honorable mention section are just as talented and are more than capable of being in the top ten. In short, there is a great deal of depth this season and the road to the top podium in California will be a hard fought battle to say the least.

1. Jesse Delgado

School: Gilroy
09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 125
Projected College Weight Class: 125

Jesse Delgado (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)

Scouting Report: Delgado is one of two California wrestlers in position this season to earn a rare fourth California state medal. A returning state champion, Delgado has earned titles at prestigious tournaments, such as the Reno TOC and Five Counties and is expected to have a highly competitive schedule this season. In addition, he is rated among the top lightweights in the country and with some physical growth has a lot of potential to excel at the collegiate level. The road to another California title will not come easy since the 125-pound division may size up to be among the toughest in the state with the likes of Bryan Grubbs and Zach Zimmer possibly competing within.

2. Tucker Armstrong

School: Corona Del Mar-Newport Beach
09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 140
Projected College Weight Class: 141

Tucker Armstrong (Photo/Peter Wine)

Scouting Report: A native of Ohio, Armstrong moved to the Golden State last year and wrestled for a majority of that season, but was not able to compete beyond the league meet which qualifies to the postseason tournaments (sub-sections, Masters Meet) that lead to the prestigious California state meet. During his sophomore year at St. Paris Graham, he earned a state title in one of the toughest states in the country. In addition, he is a two-time Cadet Nationals All-American and earned All-American honors last year at the NHSCA Junior Nationals. Having seen him compete, it's not difficult to surmise that he will challenge for the California title and take his skills to the next level in college. He will be very tough to beat.

3. Cody Rodebaugh

School: San Lorenzo Valley-Felton
09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 145
Projected College Weight Class: 141/149

Cody Rodebaugh (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)

Scouting Report: Ranked in the top five in California for a majority of last season, Rodebaugh set himself above all in the state when he defeated nationally-ranked Vlad Dombrovskyy of Natomas in the semifinals at state and earned his first state title. He then added to his stellar performance by earning All-American honors at the NHSCA Junior Nationals. A very tough and determined wrestler, Rodebaugh has all the tools to establish his mark in the collegiate ranks. Keep an eye on this kid. He is a good one.

4. James Cook

School: Madera
09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 171
Projected College Weight Class: 174

James Cook (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)

Scouting Report: Since his freshman season, Cook has been a fixture in the top tier of the middleweight division. Along with Jesse Delgado, Cook is in position to earn a rare fourth California state medal, a feat that has only been achieved by 19 other wrestlers in nearly 40 years. Earning a birth in the state finals and winning the NHSCA Nationals his sophomore year, I expect Cook to improve upon his fourth-place medal last season and challenge for the state title this year.

5. Bryan Grubbs

School: La Costa Canyon-Carlsbad
09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 125
Projected College Weight Class: 125

Bryan Grubbs (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)

Scouting Report: After completing a successful sophomore season in California by placing third in a very deep weight at state and earning All-American honors at the NHSCA Nationals, Grubbs moved out of the state for a year and tested his skills in the Lone Star State. The state of Texas is on the rise with talent, but does not have the depth that California has with over 800 competitive programs and a one division state tournament. At the Texas state meet, Grubbs dominated his competition to win the state title at 119 pounds. This season he returns back to the Golden State with potential to win it, but will likely have to face a meat grinder to earn the top of the podium in Bakersfield. The 125-pound weight group will likely have standouts such as Jesse Delgado, Zach Zimmer, and several other returning state placers competing in it with the potential of eight wrestlers having All-American honors to their credit. With his dedicated work ethic and determination on the mat, I am confident that Grubbs will challenge for the state title and do very well in college.

6. Zach Zimmer

School: Clovis West
09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 119/125
Projected College Weight Class: 125

Zach Zimmer (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)

Scouting Report: A state finalist in 2008, Zimmer enters the 2009-10 season in pursuit of his first state title and third medal. With a lot of national-level experience (two-time Cadet Nationals All-American/NHSCA Nationals All-American), Zimmer has the potential to win it all, but will have to bring his best game since the 125-pound weight group is likely to be the toughest in the state with many returning state and national All-Americans competing. Zimmer is a competitor and will be tough to beat this season.

7. Drew Meulman

Drew Meulman (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)

School: Saint Francis-Mountain View
09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 285
Projected College Weight Class: 285

Scouting Report: Entering this season up a weight from last year, Meulman is the top-returning heavyweight in California. Depending on whether the six returning state placers at the 215-pound division move up to heavyweight or not, Meulman could possibly have around nine returning state medalists battling him for a spot on the top podium. With two state medals and three All-American honors to his credit, Meulman will be tough to beat at this weight and in time he'll grow into a solid heavyweight that has a great deal of potential to take it to the next level in college.

8. Travis Gallegos

School: Foothill-Palo Cedro
09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 160
Projected College Weight Class: 157

Travis Gallegos (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)

Scouting Report:Gallegos first entered my radar when he earned All-American honors at the NHSCA Sophomore Nationals in 2008. Then last year, he had a solid preseason performance by placing at the Walsh Ironman in Ohio, hands down the toughest high school tournament in the country. He then finished the postseason with a third-place victory at state over NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champion Bryce Hammond of Bakersfield, in a weight group that featured five All-Americans. Gallegos has all the tools to excel at the next level and will be among the favorites to win it all this year.

9. Martin Fabbian

School: Buchanan-Clovis
09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 160
Projected College Weight Class: 157

Martin Fabian (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)

Scouting Report: Not rated very high during the regular season last year, Fabbian brought his game to the state meet and made the championship finals in a highly competitive weight that had five of the eight placers with All-American credentials. This season, I expect Fabbian to challenge for the state title ... but it will not come easy. He will likely face some stiff competition from Travis Gallegos of Palo Cedro's Foothill to reach that potential.

10. Adam Delagarza

School: Vacaville
09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 171
Projected College Weight Class: 174

Adam Delagarza (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)

Scouting Report: Delagarza finished his freshman year with a national title at the NHSCA Freshman Nationals and capped his junior season with a solid third-place finish and convincing win over three-time state placer James Cook of Madera in the consolation finals. Delagarza enters this season among the top middleweight in the state and will challenge for the state title.

Honorable Mention
Jake Briggs (Bella Vista-Fair Oaks, SJ)*
Tommy Burriel (Clovis, C)
Nick Corona-Zamarripa (Hanford West, C)
Alec Dieter (Clovis, C)
JT Felix (Centennial-Corona, S)
Mathew Galas (Central Catholic-Modesto, SJ)
Daniel Gusev (Center-Antelope, SJ)
Andrew Hudson (Redlands East Valley, S)
Dominic Kastl (Gilroy, CC)*
Kevin Maelfeyt (Trinity-Weaverville, N)*
Chris Martinez (Clovis West, C)
Frank Martinez (Northview-Covina, S)*
Clinton McAlester (Clovis, C)
Vinny Moita (De La Salle-Concord, NC)*
Bobby Morales (Laguna Hills, S)
Austin Morehead (Sutter Union, N)*
Cody Pack (Quincy, N)***
Kyle Papendorf (Buchanan-Clovis, C)*
Desmond Rios (Pleasant Valley-Chico, N)
Brian Schoene (Bakersfield, C)**
Nicholas Sierra (Lemoore, C)*
Sean Silva (Barstow, S)**
Jesse Stafford (Del Oro-Loomis, SJ)
Rodolfo Juarez (Central-Fresno, C)
AJ Valles (Sanger, C)
Rykeem Yates (Edison-Fresno, C)

*All-American honor (Cadet/Junior/NHSCA)

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