Local wrestling standout Alex Garcia qualified for the ASICS/Vaughan Junior Greco Nationals after his third-place finish in the 126-pound division of the state tournament last weekend in Fresno.

Garcia went 3-1 in the California USA State Championships at Selland Arena. He routed Southern Californian Marco Ramirez of the No Mercy School of Wrestling via 10-0 technical fall in his final match.

The Lathrop High senior, coached by his uncles Vincent and Benny Garcia, was awarded a first-round bye before meeting Concord Youth Center’s Adrian Gomez. It was well-contested for the first half of the match, with Garcia holding onto a 7-6 lead at one point. He would halt the bout with a 3 minute, 44-second pin.

That set him up in the semifinals against Temecula Valley’s Jared Root, who prevailed by technical fall, 10-0. Root went on to get teched by David Campbell of Mission Oaks High, 12-2 in the final.

Garcia rebounded well from his only defeat and made quick work of his next two opponents. He took on Eric Yang, representing Wrestling Prep of San Jose, and pinned him in 1:25 before his dominant effort in the third-place match.

The national tournament takes place July 18-26 at the Fargodome in Fargo, N.D.