DRILLER WRESTLING CLUB MARCH, 2017

NEWSLETTER

March is Here!
Nine Drillers are
Headed to the State
Championships
at Rabobank Arena
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DRILLER WRESTLING CLUB MARCH, 2017

Elijah Navarro - 113 pounds

By earning his first trip to the State Championships, Elijah Navarro has
already reached one of his pre-season goals. Far from satisfied however, this
scrappy senior will look to fight his way into the top eight of the 113 pound
bracket and check one more goal o of his list.
Navarro enters the State Championships ranked 33rd in California.
During the season he placed 4th in the Rumble for the Rig and 5th at the
Clovis West Shootout. He also finished 1st at the SWYL League
Championships, 7th at the Yosemite Valley Divisionals, and 9th in the Central
Section Masters. Navarro will begin his State tournament by facing o against
Carson Sauriol of Poway HS.

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DRILLER WRESTLING CLUB MARCH, 2017

Andrew Bloemhof - 120 pounds

After being forced to sit out during his freshman season, Andrew
Bloemhof has wasted no time in establishing himself as a contender out of the
Central Section. During the regular season Bloemhof medaled in four
tournaments: he was 3rd at the Rumble for the Rig, 3rd at the Clovis West
Shootout, 7th at the Reno Tournament of Champions, and 5th at the CIT
Morro Bay. He followed up this impressive season with a SWYL League
Championship title, a 6th place finish at the Yosemite Valley Divisional
Tournament, and a 5th place finish at the Central Section Masters. Bloemhof
enters the State Championships ranked 34th in California. He will also start
his tournament against a Poway HS wrestler in junior Cameron Santiago.

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DRILLER WRESTLING CLUB MARCH, 2017

Izzak Olejnik - 126 pounds

After finishing 5th in the State Championships last season, Izzak Olejnik
returns to Rabobank Arena looking to become a 2x CA State Medalist.
Olejnik enters what figures to be one of the most loaded weight classes this
season (126 pounds boasts 9 returning State Medalists), but the talented junior
is as game as any wrestler in the weight.
During the regular season Olejnik finished 2nd at the Rumble for the
Rig, 2nd at the Clovis West Shootout, 2nd at the Reno Tournament of
Champions, and 5th at the CIT Morro Bay. He then tacked on a SWYL
League championship, a 6th place Yosemite Valley Divisional finish, and a 3rd
place at the Central Section Masters tournament to his already impressive list
of post-season accomplishments. Olejnik currently sits at the number 19
ranked wrestler in California, though he recently acquired wins over the 18th,
7th and 2nd ranked wrestlers, respectively. He will begin his State
Championship tournament against Elijah Palacio of Calvary Chapel HS.

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DRILLER WRESTLING CLUB MARCH, 2017

Adrian Gonzalez - 132 pounds

Adrian Gonzalez is the 3rd Driller making his first trip to the State
Championships. Gonzalez has completed a solid regular season, proving he
can compete with the best in California. He finished 4th in the Rumble for the
Rig, 7th at the Reno Tournament of Champions, 7th at the CIT Morro Bay,
2nd at the SWYL League Championships, 7th at the Yosemite Valley
Divisional Tournament, and 7th at the Central Section Masters. The talented
junior will look to make his big breakthrough this weekend at Rabobank.
Gonzalez enters the tournament ranked 33rd in California and will start his
tournament pitted against Ryley Boutain of Benicia HS.

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DRILLER WRESTLING CLUB MARCH, 2017

JJ Figueroa - 138 pounds

Since he burst onto the high school wrestling scene as a freshman JJ

Figueroa has been recognized as one of the top wrestlers in California. As a
sophomore he finished 4th in the California State Championships, and looked
poised to improve upon that performance as a junior. Unfortunately, JJ
sustained an injury that prematurely ended his season. Now as a senior the
immensely talented Figueroa returns to the State Championships for one more
chance to reach the top of the podium.
Figueroa enjoyed success during the regular season, and even signed with
Fresno State to wrestle for them next season. Figueroa placed 2nd at the
Rumble for the Rig, 2nd at the Clovis West Shootout, 5th at the Reno
Tournament of Champions, 3rd at the Doc Buchanan Invitational and 2nd at
the CIT Morro Bay. He was 1st at the SWYL League Championships, 3rd at
the Yosemite Valley Divisional, and 3rd at the Central Section Masters.
Figueroa enters the State Championships ranked 3rd in California and will face
Mikey Villavicencio of Gregori HS in the first round.
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DRILLER WRESTLING CLUB MARCH, 2017

Navonte Demison - 145 pounds

Navonte Demison has already added his name to the list of great
wrestlers to come out of Bakersfield HS. If this State Championships goes as
expected, however, he could cement his name near the top of that list (which
is no small feat considering BHS has produced National Champions and one
Olympic Champion). Demison placed 3rd in the State Championships as a
freshman, 2nd as a sophomore and 1st as a Junior. He enters his final State
Championship as the favorite, riding on an undefeated season. He has already
committed to wrestle for the Arizona State Sun Devils next year who are
currently ranked in the top 20 teams in the NCAA.
After missing the first half of the wrestling season to help the Driller
football team win a Central Section title, Demison was 1st at the Doc
Buchanan Invitational, 1st at the CIT Morro Bay, 1st at the SWYL League
Championships, 1st at the Yosemite Valley Divisional, and 1st in the Central
Section Masters. Demison will begin his final run at a State Championship
against Karson Ayres of Fountain Valley HS.

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DRILLER WRESTLING CLUB MARCH, 2017

Dillon Cravens - 152 pounds

For senior Dillon Cravens, this marks his second and final trip to the
State Championships. Cravens is an incredibly powerful and hard-nosed
wrestler. His work ethic has made him a success both on the mat and in the
classroom, and has marked him as one of the leaders and captains of the
Driller Wrestling squad. During the season Cravens placed 1st at the Rumble
for the Rig, 1st at the Clovis West Shootout, and 3rd at the CIT Morro Bay. He
then won a SWYL League title, finished 2nd in the Yosemite Valley, and 5th in
the Central Section Masters. He enters the State Championships as the 13th
ranked wrestler in California and will face o against Skylar Wright of
Miramonte HS in the first round.

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DRILLER WRESTLING CLUB MARCH, 2017

Ricky Gonzalez - 160 pounds

Senior Ricky Gonzalez returns to Rabobank Arena for his third shot at
the California State Championships. After going 2-2 in this tournament last
season, Gonzalez enjoyed a successful oseason by placing in two separate
National Championship tournaments. He followed up that strong oseason
performance by finishing 2nd in the Rumble for the Rig, 3rd in the Clovis West
Shootout, 8th at the Reno Tournament of Champions, 5th at the Doc
Buchanan Invitational, and 3rd at the CIT Morro Bay. Gonzalez has
committed to continue his wrestling career at Adams State University in
Colorado, but first he will look to accomplish his goal of getting onto the State
Championships podium.
Recently, Gonzalez finished 1st in the SWYL League Championships,
3rd at the Yosemite Valley Divisional, and 3rd at the Central Section Masters
Championships. Gonzalez enters the State Championships ranked 7th and will
start his tournament by facing o against Kaes Ihsun of San Francisco
International HS.
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 DRILLER WRESTLING CLUB MARCH, 2017

Sam Loera - 182 pounds

The final qualifiers for the Drillers is Sam Loera III. Loera is a four-time
qualifier for the State Championships, and placed 7th both of the last two
seasons. After wrestling at 160 pounds for the first three years of his career,
Loera made the jump up to 182 pounds for his final run towards a State title.
He completed a successful regular season by finishing 2nd in the Rumble for
the Rig, 1st in the Clovis West Shootout, 6th at the Reno Tournament of
Champions, 3rd at the Doc Buchanan, and 2nd at the CIT Morro Bay. Loera
has also decided to wrestle for Adams State University, joining teammate and
cousin Ricky Gonzalez.
After placing 1st in the SWYL League Championships, 2nd in the
Yosemite Valley Divisional and 3rd in the Central Section Masters
Championships, Loera enters the State Championships ranked 3rd in
California. He will start his tournament against Carlos Gomez of Birmingham
HS.

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DRILLER WRESTLING CLUB MARCH, 2017

2016-2017 Varsity Schedule

Dec 3 Rumble for the Rig @ HOME

Dec 9/10 Coyote Classic @ East HS

Dec 10 Clovis West Shootout @ Clovis West HS

Dec 16/17 Reno Tournament of Champions

Dec 29 Legacy Duals @ Frontier HS

Jan 6/7 Doc Buchanan Invitational @ Clovis HS

Dinuba Invitational @ Dinuba HS

Jan 13/14 Kern County Invitational @ Centennial HS

Jan 20/21 CIT Morro Bay @ Morro Bay HS

Jan 25 League Duals @ Centennial HS

Jan 27/28 Highland Invitational @ Highland HS

Feb 1 Frontier @ HOME

Feb 10 SWYL League Championships @ Frontier HS

Feb 17/18 Yosemite Valley Championships @ East HS

Feb 24/25 Central Section Masters @ Clovis HS

Mar 3/4 California High School State Championships

@ Rabobank Arena

Photos courtesy of
Lomas Photos:

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DRILLER WRESTLING CLUB MARCH, 2017

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

MG Constructors and Engineers - Terry Bedford - Appliance Clinic - Bakersfield Bird
Dogging Service - Morgan Corporation - Coyote Club - Varner Brothers - Clark Pest
Control - Northern Digital Inc - Barrentine Company - BHS Booster Club - Centennial
Medical Group - Dewars - Bill Lees Bamboo Chopsticks - Anthony Tobin - Advanced
Network Solutions - Sequoia Sandwich Company - NuFarm Americas Inc - Skateland -
Randy Graham - Skeet Varner - Onsurez Family - Daves Fabrications - Atchley
Insurance - MTS - San Joaquin Fence & Supply - Cataldos Pizzeria @ the Riverwalk -
Supreme Almonds of California - Sharon and Bill Varner - Vernon and Janis Varner -
Fred H Schoene - Ron and Kim Nickell - Denis and Pinki Maddox - Ernie Kochis - Jon
Edwards - Jose and Rosalle Figueroa - Justin and Andrea Golding - Todd Bassett - Ted
and Lorraine Bloemhof - Buck Bonilla - Lance McCullah - Larry and Kim Morgan -
Mike and Kim Mason - Robert Warkentin - Randy and Karla Bloemhof - Toby Nairn -
Mark Garrison - Mike and Mary Box - Daniel and Yolanda Cruz - Jeff Lopeteguy - Ed
and Sue Thomas - Sherman Lee - Pamela Povlak - David R Jones - Jodi Doane - Jeff
and LeeAnn Annis - Casey Lee - Barry Cales - Andy and Hillary Varner - Connie Misko
- Valari Lee - Ron and Vicki Richardson - Gene and Janice White - Darryl Pope - Jack
and Carol Doty - Linda Chitwood - Brian Perkins - Mike and Lori Mendoza - Mike and
Liz Ruder - John and Jean Olejnik - Taunya Deyoung - Eva Villa - John Burns - Matthew
Lee - Tom and Alicia Olejnik - Eric and Debbie Kinsel - Kenny Ellebracht - Daniel and
Kayla Atondo - Dale and Linda Annis - Mitch Rolow - Harold and Dawn Brown - Mark
and Cindy Cravens - Sharon Lee Levine - Abigail Lee - Connie E Collaso - Raymond
and Eloise Estrada - Maria Perez - Casey Lee - Mike and Heather Olejnik - Richard
Madsen - Sherman and Vicki Lee - Jack Skeen - Pat and Lisa Coyle - Patrick Acosta -
Lexey Swall - Dominic and Kathie Othart - Bill Frankhouser - Eurydice Darrington -
Hasmukh C Amin - Gilbert Guerrero

Its not about today, its about what we do today to prepare for March.

GO DRILLERS!
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