By Jeffrey Vinton

PRESCOTT VALLEY — From the beginning of the medal round, it was clear which team would become state champions in a couple of hours.

Yuma Cibola, which moved down from Division I to Division II this season, held a 45.5-point lead over its nextclosest competitor, Marana Mountain View, 138-92.5.

All that Cibola did was expand on that lead throughout the night as it ended up scoring 169 points, winning by 68.5 points over Marana Mountain View and Vail Cienega, which tied for second, as each finished with scores of 100.5 points.

The most exciting match of the night occurred three matches into the finals in the 120-pound weight class, where Goodyear Desert Edge’s Joshua Kramer took on Glendale Raymond S. Kellis’ James Zuckerman.

Zuckerman came into the match having lost in the state-title match the previous two seasons, in the 106-pound weight class as a sophomore in 2012 and in the 113-pound weight class in 2011.

From the onset of the match, Zuckerman looked determined to win his first state championship, jumping out to an 8-0 lead in the first round. The score re- mained the same at the end of the second round.

It was in the third round that the match turned. Kramer came all the way back, scoring eight points to force sudden-death overtime.

Kramer used the momentum he had to score a quick two-point takedown and win the 120-pound state championship, 10-8.

Cibola would get the chance to win its first state championship two matches later, in the 132-pound weight class, when junior Luis Nuñez took on Tristin Decker, a junior from Peoria Sunrise Mountain.

Nuñez would capitalize on the opportunity and secure that state championship, defeating Decker 14-5.

Four matches later, in the 160-pound weight class, Cibola won its second state championship of the night, as senior Pierre Guad won the second state title of his high school career, defeating senior Danny Roberts from Tucson Cholla 12-4.

Gaud was excited to bring the trophy back to Yuma.

“It’s my senior year,” Gaud said. “And this being my senior year, finishing off with two-time state championship and a team state championship, it’s amazing. It’s a great way to finish it.”