Monache trio’s final trip
CIF State Wrestling Preview
For the third year in a row, the two-day CIF State Boys Wrestling Championships will feature the Monache High School trio of Mark Cardwell (170 pounds), Beau Bradley (152) and Jared Callison (126). The two seniors and one junior begin their final state championship meet together today at 9 a.m. at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.
“They have been pretty phenomenal for three years in a row,” MHS head coach Arthur Demerath. “Seeing that they’ve all won [East Yosemite League] championship, all qualified [for state]. I don’t know if historically it’s the first time we’ve had three kids in a row, but I believe it’s close if it’s not, the first time that we’ve had three Monache kids qualify for state three years in a row, consecutively. So that pretty big deal for them and the program.”
The three are some of the CIF Central Section’s best wrestlers with Cardwell and Bradley both taking second and Callison rallying back for a strong third-place finish at Masters last weekend. No. 2 Cardwell and No. 5 Bradley are also ranked in the state.
“I believe all three of them have the possibility of placing this year,” Demerath said. “The top two, Mark and Beau, have a chance of getting to the finals. They just have to wrestle their best. Got to pull everything they ever put time in to, they got to pull it all together and make it work.”
170: No. 2 Mark Cardwell
(38-4) If the third time is the charm, then Cardwell is shaping up to be the a state champion this season. With the state’s top four wrestlers in the Central Section, Cardwell has picked up wins against all except No. 1 Christian Rodriguez of Selma. Cardwell is 0-2 against the junior after trying some new things out and losing 9-1 to Rodriguez at Masters. But a triple-overtime loss to Rodriguez earlier in the season, bodes well that Cardwell does have what it takes to upset Rodriguez.
“This time I have a game plan going out there and I’m going to make sure I stick with it,” Cardwell said about meeting Rodriguez in the state finals. “No matter what happens I’m going to stay calm during the match, just stay focused.”
Demerath added, “We’re going back old-school. Go back to our good positioning, low shots, low angles and moving our feet. We talked about that on Monday. I was like, ‘That was a whole different game plan and it didn’t work.’ So now we got to change it up to what we used to do and I think he’ll be successful with that.”
As a three-time state qualifier, Cardwell has the potential to be Monache’s first wrestler to qualify for state all four years. In his first trip he went 1-2, but fell short of placing last year as the state’s No. 3 wrestler after being sidelined with an injury.
152: No. 5 Beau Bradley
(48-5) Last week senior Bradley was upset by the section’s No. 2 wrestler Jace Luchau of Selma in the championship match of Masters after being caught by Luchau, a wrestler he had no doubt he could’ve beaten for the win. Now with the state championship on the line there’ll be no waiting, no toying with his opponent. It’ll be all business for Bradley.
“This is the one that counts,” Bradley said. “I got to make sure I’m on my A-game when I wrestle them and I’m not giving up any points, making sure they fight for every point and not giving them free points. Mainly just staying solid and wrestling my match. That’s what’s going to be a difference of the match. Because if I give away free points then they have a chance of winning.”
Last year Bradley was kept from placing at state by Poway freshman Dominic Mata in an 8-3 decision in consolation. Now Bradley has a chance at redemption against Mata — the No. 1 wrestler in the state — and Luchau who are both in his half of the bracket.
“I know how Dominic Mata wrestles, I know how Jace Luchau wrestles,” he said. “I feel like if I go out and do what I need to do, wrestle my match, I feel like I could win.” 126: Jared Callison
(41-14) The biggest surprise of the state tournament could quite possibly come from senior Callison. Without a state ranking on the line, Callison is poised to surprise some people.
For the past two seasons, Callison earned a trip to the state meet with ninth- and 10th-place finishes, however in his final season he reached the state tournament after winning all five of his consolation matches by pin for third-place. That success has given Callison confidence and something to hold onto when he steps on the mat with nothing to lose.
“It helped me realize that I got a lot better than what I was,” Callison said. “So I’m a little more confident in myself. Hopefully I’m a little more confident when I get to the mat Friday.”
Of all the local wrestlers competing, Callison’s first match will more than likely be his hardest. He begins with the defending 120-pound champion and No. 1 wrestler in the state, junior Cleveland Belton of St. John Bosco. Last year Callison’s state experience began with Belton who he lost to after suffering a leg injury that also cost him his second match.
“Kind of know him, kind of know how he wrestles,” Callison said. “My plan is just to be a lot more aggressive towards him. Last year I didn’t really take any shots, so this year I’m going to try and work on taking a lot more shots. I’ve really got nothing to lose so I’m going to try my hardest.”
182: Tyler Avila
(19-4) Porterville High School sophomore Tyler Avila earned his first trip to the state tournament with a ninth-place finish at Masters. Ranked in the top 15 in the state just a couple of weeks ago Avila fell sick during the postseason, but still managed to qualify for state, which says a lot about the young wrestler’s strength and mindset.
“He’s doing better,” PHS head coach Tim Vanni said. “He just feels like he’s a little out of shape with the illness and everything. He’s coming along. I think he’s prepared...as a sophomore I think he can do very well, especially at that 182-weight class.”
Avila’s first match is likely to be against the state’s No. 10 Carlos Gomez of Birmingham. A win against Gomez would possibly pit Avila against, No. 7 Breck Jeffus of Turlock.
“I know they’ve (brackets) been out, but I’m not real concerned with that,” Vanni said about possible matches. “It’s trying to get Tyler in a mindset that he needs to stay within his capabilities and do the things he’s good at and maintain those positions. If he’s able to do that, it’s going to make it very difficult for him to be scored on. He should have some success.”