BAKERSFIELD – Live Oak High’s Isaiah Locsin and Paul Fox and Nikko Villarreal of Gilroy High each advanced this morning to tonight’s state finals of the California Interscholastic Federation state meet at Rabobank Arena.
Locsin, a junior 120-pounder, won his semifinal with a 4-2 decision over North Torrance senior Jordan Gurrola. Locsin will face rival Mason Pengilly, a Porterville junior, in the state final tonight.
Fox, a 132-pound junior, won his semifinal with a 3-1 decision over Kingsburg senior Javier Gasca III. Fox will meet national sensation Aaron Pico, a freshman from St. John Bosco, in the state title match tonight.
Villarreal, a 138-pound junior, won his semifinal with an 8-4 decision over Santiago junior Mike Longo. Villarreal will wrestle rival Elijah Davis, a senior from Archbishop Riordan, in the state final tonight.
The finals are scheduled to begin at about 7:15 p.m. today.
Locsin, who capped a 51-0 sophomore season with a state title at 113 last season, will look to avenge a 5-3 overtime loss to Pengilly in the Doc Buchanan Invitational final in January.
Villarreal, who won a state title at 132 last year, will look to defeat Davis for the second time in two weeks after claiming a 3-2, triple-overtime victory in the Central Coast Section final Feb. 23 at Independence High in San Jose.
