state wrestling outlook

On the eve of the 2009 state wrestling championships in Bakersfield, here’s a look at some of the prospects. This is just the first blog entry. Stay tuned for more live blogging from Bakersfield.

In the San Bernardino County and Inland Valley, here are the wrestlers who are ranked in the state entering the meet.

112: Barstow’s Sean Silva (6th); 125: Sultana’s Ryan Fillingame (3rd); 145: Sultana’s Cody Bollinger (third); 189: Hesperia’s Danny Reyes (8th); and 215: Redlands East Valley’s Andrew Hudson (fifth).

Wrestlers facing ranked opponents in their first match:

135: Victor Valley’s Chris Swayze vs. No. 7 Kevin Maelfeyt of Trinity; 145: Rancho Cucamonga’s Joey Lemond, vs. No. 5 Taylor Hodel of Vacaville; 152: Hesperia’s Christopher Sloat, vs. No. 5 Travis Gallegos of Palo Cedro Foothill (if Gallegos wins his first match); 160: Victor Valley’s Darrin Duncan vs. No. 1 Stephen West of Clovis Buchanan.

Best draws: Ryan Fillingame, who won’t face another ranked wrestler, No. 2 or No. 6 in the semifinals at the earliest if he keeps winning; Bollinger, who has a similar draw to Fillingame  except with a first-round bye and won’t face another ranked wrestlers, No. 2, 5 or 6 until the semifinals at the earliest; and Carter’s Kenny Breaux (189), who, if he keeps winning, wouldn’t face a ranked wrestler until the quarters, when he could face No. 3 or No. 7.

Tough draws, other than those with ranked first opponents: Reyes, whio is ranked eighth, but would face No. 1 seed Ian Daube of Poway in the third round, and Hudson, who is ranked fifth, but would have to get past No. 1 seed Nick Pica of Concord in the quarterfinals.

wrestlers who might do better than their rankings: Richie Cascante of San Gorgonio (112), won four straight times in consolation last week, then defaulted twice and finished a misleading eighth. Lemond, who might be able to surprise someone with an unorthodox move, and Breaux and Reyes at 189, who both have the potential to move up.