Pinning hopes on second chances
Two wrestlers win state titles after suffering tough losses earlier in the season.
BAKERSFIELD – A wrestler can learn a lot from an early season setback. Just ask Calvary Chapel's Jason Lara and Edison's Garrett Drucker.
Both wrestlers turned their motivation from a defeat into state titles at Saturday's CIF State Wrestling Championships at Rabobank Arena.
Earlier in the season, Lara was defeated by Nikko Triggas of Campolindo of Moraga at the Reno Tournament of Champions.
Saturday, Lara thoroughly dominated Triggas, the top-ranked wrestler in the state at 119 pounds, on his way to an 11-5 victory in the finals.
In the "Hobbies and Interests" category of the information sheet for all of Saturday's CIF State finalists, Lara listed climbing trees as one of his interests. Lara finally has reached the top.
Lara advanced to the state tournament last year, but didn't finish in the top eight of his weight class.
"I knew that I could beat him," Lara said. "I felt that he was breaking, I could see it in his face. There were a couple of takedowns he just gave up. He tried, but mentally he was defeated."
Lara scored the first takedown late in the first period. He added three more in the second period.
Triggas scored an escape with 1:09 on the clock in the third period to cut the score to 9-4, but Lara wasn't to be denied as he iced the match with another takedown.
"I don't even know what to say right now," Lara said with tears of joy streaming down his face.
The victory comes as sweet revenge for the Calvary Chapel family. Last year, Triggas defeated Calvary Chapel's Justin Paulsen in the finals at 112 pounds.
"He is a great wrestler and he wrestled smart," Calvary Chapel coach Josh Holiday said of Lara. "We stuck to our advantages and we knew we could win the match on our feet.
"He worked for it. For Jason, we've been talking all year that he hasn't put it all together for one tournament, but if you're going to put it together, then make it this tournament. And he did. He beat him up; he almost majored him."
Drucker had tasted disappointment earlier in the year, losing in the finals at Five Counties and failing to win the Masters title.
Drucker (Edison) went through the 135-pound weight class and ended the weekend with 9-7 victory over Elliott Dennis of La Costa Canyon in the finals.
"That Masters loss taught him a lesson," Edison coach Luis Renteria said. "He stopped wrestling, and I told him that you have to wrestle for six minutes. You can't rely on your lead."
