CIF California State Wrestling tourney live updates recap: Zepeda wins 3rd straight crown; Buchanan wins team title

Gilroy senior wins third straight title in third weight class; Teammates Isaiah, Elijah Cortez also repeat; Gonzales, Lemus win third straight girls' titles; Clovis East takes girls team crown

The championship returns to the Buchanan boys wrestling team. Here are all the team members for boys and girls at the 2025 CIF State Wrestling Championships at Mechanic's Bank Arena in Bakersfield / Photo: David Dennis

It's hard enough to win a state wrestling championship. Try going back-to-back. How about back-to-back-to-back? In three different weight classes.

Daniel Zepeda's body changed, but his resolve and skill evidently didn't as the Gilroy senior took his third straight state crown Saturday at Mechanic's Bank Arena in Bakersfield.

It was a much tougher match than expected, but Zepeda edged Northern Section upstart Alias Raby, a junior from Anderson, 5-3 to claim the 150-pound championship. He previously won at 132s in 2023 and 138 last season.

Zepeda joined two teammates as repeat champs, as Isaiah Cortez won the 126 crown after taking 120 in 2023, and Elijah Cortez, who captured the 138 title after winning at 126 in 2023.

Despite the three individual titles, Gilroy didn't have quite enough depth to take home the team title, finishing with 239 points behind champion Buchanan (247.5) and runnerup Poway (240), the defending champion. Buchanan had won the previous seven titles before 2024.

Buchanan junior Rocklin Zinkin repeated as champion with a tough 7-2 decision win over Poway's Edwin Sierra in the finals. Zinkin won the 113 title as a sophomore.

Boys semifinal action is upside down good in CIF California 2025 Championships / Photo: David Dennis

Other repeat male champions were Henry Aslikyan, of Birmingham, who took home the 113 crown after winning 106 last year and Nikade Zinkin, a senior at Clovis, wo captured the 144 title after winning 126 in 2024.

CALIFORNIA JEWEL | CIF Wrestling Championship Preview

There were also three-time champion crowned in the girls as Isabella Marie Gonzales, of Clovis East, took 120 championship and Lelani Lemus, a junior from Clovis, won the 170-pound championship.

Gonzales' championship led Clovis East to the state team championship with 84.5 points, followed by Northview (77), Buchanan (68) and Orange Vista (67.5).

Check for all the championship, third-place and semifinal results below, along with fantastic photos provided by David Dennis. Photos will be added throughout the night.

Championship match photos

State championship match / Photo: David Dennis

From 2025 CIF State Wrestling championship matches, a state championship match at the Mechanic’s Bank Arena in Bakersfield. / Photo: David Dennis

From 2025 CIF State Wrestling championship matches, a state championship match at the Mechanic’s Bank Arena in Bakersfield.California state wrestling championships from Bakersfield / Photo: David Dennis

From 2025 CIF State Wrestling championship matches, a state championship match at the Mechanic’s Bank Arena in Bakersfield. / Photo: David Dennis

From 2025 CIF State Wrestling championship matches, a state championship match at the Mechanic’s Bank Arena in Bakersfield. / Photo: David Dennis

BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

106: Samuel Sanchez (Esperanza) TF Anthony Garza (Clovis), 20-0 5:04

113: Henry Aslikyan (Birmingham) d. Paul Ruiz (Buchanan), 5-2

120: Rocklin Zinkin (Buchanan) d. Edwin Sierra (Poway), 7-2

126: Isaiah Cortez (Gilroy) MD Paris Ruiz (Buchanan), 9-0

132: Moses Mendoza (Gilroy) d. Billy Townson (Poway), 3-1

138: Elijah Cortez (Gilroy) d. Jesse Grajeda (St. John Bosco) 3-2 (UTB)

144: Nikade Zinkin (Clovis) d. Joseph Toscano (Buchanan), 4-1

150: Daniel Zepada (Gilroy) d. Alias Raby (Anderson), 5-3

157: Chris Creason (El Diamonte) d. Leo Contino (Buchanan), 4-1

165: Mario Carini (Poway) d. Joseph Antionio (St. John Bosco), 5-4

175: Tyler Eise (Gilroy) MD Mason Ontiveros (Pitman), 13-4

190: Levi Bussey (Granite Bay) d. Jonathan Rocha (Clovis North), 4-3

215: Angelo Posada (Poway) d. Khale McDonnell (Fountain Valley), 7-0

285: Coby Merrill (JW North) d. Mark Marin (Clovis), 8-2

FINAL BOYS TEAM STANDING

1. Buchanan 247.5
2. Poway 240
3. Gilroy 239
4. St. John Bosco 229.5
5. Clovis 211
6. Clovis North 144.5
7. Fountain Valley 124.5
8. Esperanza 113.5
9. Pitman 80.5
10. Birmingham 71

GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

Intense girls semifinal action in the CIF State Championships 3/1/2025 from Mechanic's Arena in Bakersfield / Photo: David Dennis

100: Christina Edwards (Buchanan) MD Jillian Wells (Lakeside), 14-2

105: Ella Cohen (Palo Alto) F Ava Fodera (Poway), 5:20

110: Aubree Gutierrez (Marina) F Abbi Cooper (Clayton Valley), 5:55

115: Epensa Elison (Los Altos) F Kaiya Maggini (Del Oro), 3:17

120: Isabella Maria Gonzales (Clovis East) F SJ Martin (Granada), 1:47

125: Zahra Stewart (Orange Vista) F Shayna Ward (Oakland Tech), 5:30

130: Samantha Sachs (Glendora) F Ruby Julien-Newsom (Torrey Pines), 1:04

More girls semifinal action from Mechanic's Arena in Bakersfield / Photo: David Dennis

135: Lauren Zaragoza (Brawley) D. Tamara Grace (Gilroy), 6-4

140: Yzbella Austin (Pitman) d. Mary Snider (Rancho Bernardo), 7-1

145: Olivia Davis (Esperanza) d. DeLarie Juarez (Northview), 8-3

155: Natalie Blanco (Chino) MD Angelina Jiang (Gunn), 13-4

170: Leilani Lemus (Clovis) MD Kayleen Tuavao (Tokay), 19-7

190: Evelyn Vargas (Merced) d. Juliana Marquez (Gabrielino), 5-4

235: Trinity Tipton (Camarillo) d. Charlene Smith (San Dimas), 8-6

FINAL GIRLS TEAM SCORES

Clovis East's trio pose after bringing home the championship team trophy. / Photo: David Dennis

1. Clovis East 84.5
2. Northview 77
3. Buchanan 68
4. Orange Vista 67.5
5. Marina 63
6. Poway 62.5
7. Clayton Valley 59.5
8. Birmingham 55.5
9. Corona 53.5
10. Gilroy 52

BOYS SEMIFINALS

Winning semifinal matches to get to the championship might be more emotional than the title matches themselves. / Photo: David Dennis

106: Samuel Sanchez (Esperanza) f Jorge Rios (St. John Bosco) 5:42; Anthony Garza (Clovis) d. Nathaniel Granados (Merced), 2-1

113: Paul Ruz (Buchanan) d. Max Murillo (Esperanza) 10-6; Henry Aslikyan (Birmingham) d. Aiden Garcia (Palma), 6-2

120: Rocklin Zinkin (Buchanan) TF Paulo Valdez (Hesperia, 17-2 2:32; Edwin Sierra (Poway) d. Christian Garcia (Walnut), 4-2

126: Paris Ruiz (Buchanan) d. Slater Hicks (Valencia), 7-1; Isaiah Cortez (Gilroy) d. Antonio Rodriguez (Los Gatos), 4-3

132: Moses Mendoza (Gilroy) f. Leo Macias (Kingsburg), 3:32; Billy Townson (Poway) d. Ashton Besmer (Buchanan), 6-0

138: Jesse Grajeda (St. John Bosco) d. Ames-Michael Hoevker (Granite Hills), 11-4; Elijah Cortez (Gilroy) d. Leo Maestas (Clovis North), 4-1

144: Nikade Zinkin (Clovis) TF Arseni Kikiniou (Poway) 5:59; Joseph Toscano (Buchanan) d. Michael Romero (St. John Bosco), 8-5

150: Daniel Zepeda (Gilroy) TF Matthew Luna (St. Francis), 15-0; Alias Raby (Anderson) d. Ivan Arias (Buchanan) 7-4

The action is fierce in semifinal action. Nation's No. 1 ranked 150-pounder Daniel Zepeda celebrates 15-0 win over Matthew Luna at Mechanic's Arena Bank. / Photo: David Dennis

157: Chris Creason (El Diamante) TF Beau Priest (Bakersfield), 17-2, 3:33; Leo Contino (Buchanan) d. Mark Del Bosque (Clovis North), 7-0

165: Mario Carini (Poway) F. Travis Grace (Gilroy), 5:18; Joseph Antonio (St. John Bosco) d. Slava Shahbazyan (Birmingham), 12-9

175: Tyler Eise (Gilroy) d. Adrien Reyes (Clovis), 4-1; Mason Ontiveros (Pitman) d. Dylan Pile (Los Gatos), 12-8

190: Jonathan Rocha (Clovis North) f Brokton Borelli (Los Banos), 5:55; Levi Bussey (Granite Bay) MD Carter Vannest (Pitman), 16-5

215: Angelo Posada (Poway) d. Wes Burford (Oakdale), 10-4; Khale McDonnell (Fountain Valley) d. Kayden Cartee (Mayfair), 5-1

285: Coby Merrill (JW North) F Devin Alarcon (Clovis North), 1:11; Mark Marin (Clovis) MD Daniel Moylan (Poway), 12-3

BOYS 3RD PLACE

106: Jorge Rios (St. John Bosco) d. Jax Vang (Buchanan), 9-2

113; Aiden Garcia (Palma) d. Max Murrillo (Esperanza), 3-0

120: Sean Wilcox (St. John Bosc) d. Christian Garcia (Walnut), 8-2

126: Ronnie Ramirez (Walnut) TF Siraj Sidhu (Del Oro), 19-3, 4:49

132: Ashton Besmer (Buchanan) TF Leo Macias (Kingsburg), 15-0, 2:11

138: Leo Maestas (Clovis North) F. Raymond Rivera (Clovis), 3:38

144: Ryan Espiritu (Vacaville) d. Michael Romero (St. John Bosco), 3-0

150: Ivan Arias (Buchanan) d. Matthew Luna (Saint Francis), 11-6

157: Beau Priest (Bakersfield) d. James Curoso (Clovis), 14-11

175: Dylan Pile (Los Gatos) d. Adrien Reyes (Clovis), 10-3

190: Brokton Borelli (Los Banos) TF Carter Vannest (Pitman), 18-0, 4:05

215: Wes Burford (Oakdale) F Kayden Cartee (Mayfair), 3:44

285: Daniel Moylan (Poway) MD Devin Alarcon (Clovis North), 10-2

GIRLS 3RD PLACE

100: Giselle Solano (Franklin-Elk Grove) d. Josie Benitez (Kingsburg), 5-2

105: Jazmine Turner (Grace Davis) d. Avy Perez (Birmingham), 7-1

110: Sophia Marie Gonzales (Clovis East) MD Kamila Cerna (Stockdale), 8-0

115: Angelina Borelli (Los Banos) MD Briana Ross (San Marcos), 11-2

120: Kylee Golz (Trabuco Hills) d. Alexandrea Corona (Monache), 6-5

125: Rianna Bernal (Lemoore) F Me'Kala James (Central), 2:03

130: Renice Gonzalez (Colono) d. Savannah Talmadge (Clayton Valley), 8-5

135: Dulcy Martinez (Central Catholic) F Braya Cruz (Clovis North), 1:38

140: Jaelyn Unpingco (Clovis East) F Lucia Ledezma (Granite Hills), 2:21

145: Jestinah Solomua (Corona) d. Anakarla Hernandez (St. Helena), 11-5

155: Symone Jewell (Northgate) d. Eva Garcia (Marina), 7-0

170: Angela Salazar (Santa Ana) d. Chrystina Ballejos (Sheldon), 6-3

190: Golda Demby (Hollister) d. Brianna Alvarado (Highland), 8-1

235: Oliva Ruacho (Central) d. Katherine Luna (Downey), 2-1 (TB2)

Quarterfinal action Friday at Mechanic's Bank in Bakersfield was intense. / Photo: David Dennis

• LIVE STREAM THURSDAY NFHS

• LIVE STREAM FRIDAY NFHS

• LIVE STREAM SATURDAY NFHS

• LIVE SCORING | Flo Sports Arena

• LIVE BOYS PAIRINGS | CIF state

• LIVE GIRLS PAIRINGS | CIF state

• AFTER DAY 2 | Girls team scores

The three-day event — the 52nd boys tournament combined with the 14th girls tournament — figures to fill to its near 9,000 capacity all three days. There's close to 1,000 competitors qualified from the entire 760-mile length of the Golden State.

Among the 14 previous state champions there's been few surprises. Here's a look at how those wrestlers performed on Friday

MORE PHOTOS

Quarterfinal action Friday from Mechanic's Bank Arena in Bakersfiee / Photo: David Dennis

Day 2 quarterfinal action was intense and strategic / Photo: David Dennis

More quarterfinal action from Friday's matches at Mechanic's Bank. / Photo: David Dennis

Nationally ranked

Coming into the week, here are California male wrestlers ranked among the top 30 nationally in each weight class (number is national rank) as selected by Billy Buckheit

106 LBS

1-Samuel Sanchez (Esperanza, CA) FR

11-Anthony Garza (Clovis, CA) SO

12-Nathaniel Granados (Merced, CA) SR

13-Jorge Rios (St. John Bosco, CA) FR

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113 LBS

3-Paul Ruiz (Buchanan, CA) FR

4-Henry Aslikyan (Birmingham, CA) JR

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120 LBS

7-Rocklin Zinkin (Buchanan, CA) JR

8-Edwin Sierra (Poway, CA) SR

28-Sean Willcox (St. John Bosco, CA) JR

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126 LBS

2-Ronnie Ramirez (Walnut, CA) SR

5-Antonio Rodriguez (Los Gatos, CA) JR

8-Nathan Carillo (St. John Bosco, CA) JR

9-Isaiah Cortez (Gilroy, CA) SR

13-Paris Ruiz (Buchanan, CA) SR

28-Slater Hicks (Valencia, CA) SO

29-Siraj Sidhu (Del Oro, CA) JR

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132 LBS

6-Moses Mendoza (Gilroy, CA) JR

7-Ashton Besmer (Buchanan, CA) JR

18-Billy Townson (Poway, CA) SR

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138 LBS

10-Jesse Grajeda (St. John Bosco, CA) SO

11-Elijah Cortez (Gilroy, CA) SR

15-Leo Maestas (Clovis North, CA) SR

16-Raymond Rivera (Clovis, CA) JR

19-Jacob Perez (Monache, CA)

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144 LBS

3-Nikade Zinkin (Clovis, CA) SR

4-Joseph Toscano (Buchanan, CA) JR

27-Michael Romero (St. John Bosco, CA) SO

29-Arseni Kikiniou (Poway, CA) SO

30-Braden Priest (Bakersfield, CA) SR

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150 LBS

1-Daniel Zepeda (Gilroy, CA) SR

15-Ivan Arias (Buchanan, CA) JR

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157 LBS

8-Leo Contino (Buchanan, CA) SR

16-Beau Priest (Bakersfield, CA) SR

17-Alias Raby (Anderson, CA) 

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165 LBS

12-Mario Carini (Poway, CA) SO

13-Slava Shahbazyan (Birmingham, CA) JR 

14-Joseph Antonio (St. John Bosco, CA) SR

19-Travis Grace (Gilroy, CA) JR

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175 LBS

5-Tyler Eise (Gilroy, CA) SR

10-Dylan Pile (Los Gatos, CA) SR

18-Mason Ontiveros (John H Pitman, CA) JR

27-Isai Fernandez (St. John Bosco, CA) FR

29-Adrien Reyes (Clovis, CA) SR

190 LBS

13-Levi Bussey (Granite Bay, CA) SR

15-Jonathan Rocha (Clovis North, CA) JR

19-Brokton Borelli (Los Banos, CA) SR

215 LBS

165: Travis Grace (Gilroy) MD Slava Shahbazyan (Birmingham), 12-3

10-Khale McDonnell (Fountain Valley, CA) SR

12-Kayden Kartee (Mayfair, CA)