Big night for the Blazers! With 2 Region 3-AAAA matches to wrestle tonight, the team needed to win 1 to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2011!
In the first match of the evening, Westwood was able to hold off the team with a 38-36 decision. Neither team was wrestling at full strength, and there were some great matches wrestled. Key performers for the squad were McKale Yanagacio and Mike McQueen, both of whom came up with necessary pins to put the team in striking distance of a win. While unfortunate to come so close to a win, once again the team showed vast improvement in the past year against the Redhawks. In 2017, the Blazers lost 60-15. Earlier this season, 45-30. Hopefully next season we can get on the right side of the final score!
In the final match of the Region 3-AAAA slate, the team took on Lancaster. In 2017, we lost another heartbreaking match 38-33. This year, we showed improvement by getting a 52-30 decision. Will Johnson, Jonathan Cardona, Brandon Holliman, Donovan Keeffe, Jalen Jones, Lorenza Waiters, McKale Yanagacio, Jacob Shusterman, and Dimitrias Chestnut all performed at a high level to secure the win and the playoff spot.
Up next, individuals will wrestle in the Region 3-AAAA Tournament for the chance to qualify for the Upper State Tournament in a few weeks. The whole team will next compete against Airport High School next Saturday, February 3rd in the 1st Round of the AAAA State Playoffs.
