GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Gridley High School wrestling has been busy in recent weeks competing in tournament after tournament. On Saturday, December 21, 2019, a few Bulldog wrestlers traveled to Wheatland High School to compete in a tournament. For the varsity boys, Jaden Taylor wrestled at the 152 pound weight class. Taylor finished in 3rd place at the tournament. Miko Montero wrestled in the 285 pound weight class and finished in 5th place at the tournament. 

On January 3rd and 4th, 2020, Gridley varsity wrestler, Dallas Stevens, traveled to Chico High School to compete in the seventh annual Joe Rios Memorial Wrestling Tournament. This tournament is one of the best in the area bringing in competitors from all over the north state. In Stevens’ first three matches, he tech’d all three opponents before the third round. A tech, abbreviated for technical fall or technical superiority, is when a wrestler beats an opponent by a specified amount of points in a match. It’s wrestling’s equivalent to the mercy rule. Stevens beat his first opponent from Yuba City High School, his second opponent from Turlock High School, and his third opponent from Red Bluff High School; all by fifteen points. His fourth opponent, in the semi-final round, came against Oakmont High School. This opponent proved to be the most difficult in the tournament for Stevens as he went on to win by a score of 7-5. In the championship round, Stevens faced off against the #1 seed from Vista Del Lago High School. Stevens won the 141 pound weight class championship when he pinned his opponent in the first round with about 30 seconds left in the round. 

On Friday, January 10, 2020, Gridley varsity and JV wrestlers traveled to Sutter High School to compete in the Sutter Invitational Wrestling Tournament. The varsity girls came out to wrestle as they had ten pins between the four of them. Malia Montero had four pins and finished first place in the 131 pound weight class. Regan Azevedo had two pins and finished first in the 150 pound weight class. Angela Gutierrez had three pins and finished first in the 170 pound weight class. Demetria Zepeda had one pin and finished third in the 150 pound weight class. Montero and Gutierrez pinned their opponents in the championship round for the victory. 

For the JV boys, Emmanuel Martinez placed second in the 132 pound weight class and Pablo De La Cruz placed second in the 138 pound weight class.