West Hills takes sixth place at Golden Eagle Invitational
LEMOORE – Led by an individual championship by sophomore Wayne Joint, the West Hills College Lemoore wrestling team compiled 99.5 points to finish in sixth place out of 20 teams at its own Golden Eagle Invitational.
The highly-competitive event gives an early-season preview of possible state championship matchups, which will also be held at Golden Eagle Arena later this year.
Joint, the event's top seed at the 141-pound weight division and defending state champion, went a perfect 4-0 to take first place. He defeated Mario De La Torre of Cerritos College by 10-5 decision in the championship final.
At 197, sophomore Justin Tripp went bronze with a third-place finish. Seeded third at his weight class, Tripp pinned all three of his opponents on his way to the semifinals before dropping a narrow 7-4 decision to Fresno City College's Rudy Garcia. Tripp was awarded third place after his opponent forfeited the match.
Tripp was fourth at last year's state championships.
Also placing among the tournament's top-eight were Cesar Guzman at 133 (8th), Philip Arroyo at 149 (6th), Michael Kraemer at 157 (7th), and Daniel Jacuinde at 285 (6th).
Fresno City won the team title with 211.5 points, followed by Cerritos (165) and Mt. San Antonio College (157.5) in the top-three.
The Golden Eagles are back in action on Thursday (Sep. 29) when they will compete in a pair of dual matches at Sierra College. West Hills will face host Sierra and Fresno City.