BAKERSFIELD – St. John Bosco brothers Zahid and Anthony Valencia made history for the second time in three years.
In 2012, the Valencias became the first CIF state freshman brothers to win state titles in the same year.
After second- and third-place efforts from juniors Anthony and Zahid, respectively, in 2013, the Valencias bounced back in style as both won their second state championships Saturday night at Bakersfield’s Rabobank Arena and finished undefeated and dominated throughout the two-day showcase in front of an estimated crowd of 12,000 fans.
It’s Zahid’s second undefeated mark.
The Braves’ stars helped lead Bosco to a sixth-place team effort, which was best for any team from the Southern Section.
Zahid (132 pounds) pinned Paradise High’s Wyatt Wyckoff 53 seconds into the second period to earn his second state title in a brilliant three-year career.
Zahid improved to an almost unfathomable 130-1 at Bosco, including four pins and a major en route to his second undefeated season.
“Hard work helped make my dream come true,” Zahid Valencia said. “That’s the reason for my success.”
Anthony won a 14-4 major over Bakersfield’s Bryce Martin in the 170-pound title bout.
In all, he won three falls, a decision and a major.
“I feel great winning another state championship, but my main focus is becoming an Olympic world champion,” Anthony Valencia said.
Joseph Dominguez (138) fell one round short of placing last year, but the Bosco junior was able to earn a podium spot with five wins and a sixth-place effort.
Dominguez lost in the quarterfinals Friday night, 9-2, to eventual champion Emilio Saavedra but earned a 4-2 victory over Escalon’s Tyler Lawrence in the win-or-go-home round early Saturday and then pinned James Logan High’s Jacob Macalolooy.
In his three losses, all came to state placers Sergio Enloe (Poway, fourth), Uzo Owuama (Bloomington, fourth) and state champion Saavedra of Modesto.
“I am so proud of my boys that I’ve got teary eyes,” Bosco coach Omar Delgado said. “They did not take a day off since finishing second and third last year, and the work paid off. Their work ethic, talent and drive make them the best Bosco wrestlers in history.”
They’re the only two wrestlers to go undefeated in the same year at Bosco.
Other area wrestlers included Downey’s Tony Florido (285), who was eliminated after he was pinned by Jose Alvarez (Selma) at 4:57 in the first round Saturday morning.
Florido had an impressive 3-2, two-day effort that saw the Vikings senior go from failing to place at the CIF-SS Inland Division individuals a year ago to three wins, including two via pin, on the sport’s biggest stage.
Bosco senior Julian Gendreau (113) and Paramount junior Noe Sandoval (220) bowed out early on Friday’s first day.
Gendreau has still won back-to-back CIF-SS Southern Division titles, and Sandoval won his second SGVL individual title to use as motivation for his senior year.
