ONTARIO – Aaron Nagao has made himself known in the 106-pound division this year.
Esperanza’s freshman started the season ranked 19th, he’s now ranked third, and Friday he set himself up for a potentially big second day at the CIF-SS Masters Meet.
Nagao went 3-0 at Citizens Business Bank Arena to advance to the semifinals and, more importantly, clinch a spot in next week’s CIF State Tournament.
Wrestling resumes today at 10 a.m.
The top nine in each weight class advance to the CIF State Tournament, March 3-4 at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.
Nagao pinned Calvary Chapel’s Easton Amuro in the quarterfinals.
“I imagine winning state every day,” Nagao said. “I take that into practice, the days I don’t want to go, I just used that as motivation. I know I’ve trained harder than anyone else in state and I can leave practice knowing that.”
Nagao won two matches by fall and another by decision.
His path toward the title today could include fourth-ranked Jonathan Prata (Downey) and the state’s top-ranked Eddie Flores (Northview).
“For a freshman to be on the run that he’s on is pretty dang good,” Esperanza coach Christian Holiday said of Nagao. “I’m surprised he hasn’t hit a little landmine that some of the freshmen do. I don’t want to jinx ourselves, but he steps on the mat more prepared than any wrestler I’ve ever seen, every single time and that’s what really sets him apart.”
Nagao has just one loss this season and it came at the La Costa Canyon Invitational. He has won seven tournaments.
His goal for the second day is to try for an eighth title.
“I’m going to give it everything that I have,” he said. “It is a qualifying tournament still, but I’m going to try and win it.”
Nagao is one of three Esperanza wrestlers who advanced to the semifinals and earned a spot at the state tournament, along with Josh Brown (132) and Isaiah Mora (138).
Calvary Chapel’s Luciano Arroyo (120) and Elijah Palacio (126) are also in the semifinals and headed to the state tournament.
Other O.C. state qualifiers include: Trey Munoz (Trabuco Hills, 126), Anthony Le (Laguna Hills, 132), Troy Madrigal (Servite, 152), Sam Azar (Aliso Niguel, 160), Gerardo Hernandez (Capistrano Valley, 182), Kyle Marshall (San Clemente, 195), Joey Daniel (Santa Ana, 220) and Ethan Bakker (Los Alamitos, 220).
There are 21 O.C. wrestlers alive in the consolation bracket.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@scng.com
