By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Smith places sixth at State
wrrestling-top1
A loss to Brody Goens of Chino Hills, left, leaves Ripon High junior Trevor Smith with a sixth place state medal on Saturday in Bakersfield. - photo by Ike Dodson

BAKERSFIELD — Martin Beeler – a 2006 Ripon High graduate – can add some fresh polish to his State medal, as it remains in the school record book for at least one more year.

Ripon junior Trevor Smith dropped three consecutive matches during the second day of action at the California Interscholastic Federation State Wrestling Championships on Saturday at the Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, slipping from his position in the championship semifinals to a sixth place medal.

The hardware leaves Smith tied with Beeler for the best finish in school history, but as one of only two non-senior medalists at his weight, the record may not withstand the same onslaught in 2012.

Smith soared into the semis after a terrific run during the tourney’s opening day, but saw only his second loss of the season when he met eventual two-time state champion and nationally ranked (No. 6) Nikko Reyes of Clovis West. Reyes powered to an early takedown and turned Smith to his back for a pin just a minute and 11 seconds into the match.

“Trevor had only lost once this season before state, and that was in overtime,” Ripon coach Glen White said. “I think he was so focused on winning that match in the semis and going to the state finals that he didn’t think about what it would be like if he lost.

“It really frustrated him and he wasn’t himself after that.”

Smith labored through a 2-0 loss to Kyle Davies of Clovis in the consolation semifinals, then slipped 9-4 in the fifth place match to the same wrestler (Brody Goens of Chino Hills) who he had dismantled 18-5 earlier in the tournament.

“I was still upset about the first match I lost and didn‘t have my heart in it after that,” Smith said Sunday. “After I lost to the kid from Clovis I was exhausted mentally – done and out of it.

“I have got to learn how to control my emotions more because they went away from me when I lost in the semis.”

The last defeat forced Smith to settle for sixth, but did little to tarnish Ripon’s third ever state placement. The medal was a fantastic end to a stunning season from a Ripon junior who was just 1-2 at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters tourney a year ago. Smith won Masters this year and clearly solidified himself as one of the top talents scheduled to return for the 2012-13 season.

And the preparation for next year has already begun. Smith may tackle opponents at Junior Folkstyle State on Friday and Saturday, and has already qualified for a host of elite national tournaments in the summer. He qualified for the Flowrestling Nationals in Philadelphia by winning the prestigious Five Counties Tourney earlier this season. He also qualified for Junior Nationals in Virginia and said he expects to compete at the Freestyle Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota.

“He’s a lot stronger than last year, but we have to make that improvement again for next season,” White said. “He wrestles as much as he can in the offseason, and that will help.”



To contact Ike Dodson, e-mail idodson@oakdaleleader.com