BAKERSFIELD — Gilroy High sophomore Nikko Villarreal pulled off one of the biggest shockers in the history of the California Interscholastic Federation state wrestling championship Saturday night.
Trailing 3-0 with about five seconds remaining, he yanked down three-time champion Alex Cisneros of Selma for a two-point takedown. He then turned him toward his back for a three-point near-fall and a stunning 5-3 victory.
The crowd at Rabobank Arena erupted.
The night was set up to be a coronation for Cisneros, vying to become the second person to go 4 for 4 in the state finals.
Instead, Villarreal dethroned the king.
“He found the will to win and went for it,” Gilroy coach Greg Varela said of Villarreal, a phenom who placed third last year.
Isaiah Locsin at the state finals
Isaiah Locsin of Live Oak added an exclamation point to his unbeaten season with a 5-4 win over Jonas Gaytan, one of four Clovis’ competitors in the finals. The sophomore Locsin (51-0) finished second in 2011.
Gilroy senior Willie Fox, a four-time Central Coast Section finalist, won the state championship at 145 pounds with an 8-1 decision over De La Salle’s Alex Abono.
Gilroy’s Paul Fox, a sophomore and Willie’s younger brother, lost to St. John Bosco-Bellflower freshman Anthony Valencia in the 126 championship match by fall in 5 minutes, 43 seconds.
Earlier Saturday, Gilroy nailed down three spots in the championship round in rapid fashion.
Fox (126) got things rolling with a 3-1 win over Southern Section runner-up Joshua Rodrigues of Righetti-Santa Maria.
Then Villarreal (132) rallied to stun Javier Gasca of Kingsburg, winning by fall at 5:52 as the Mustangs supporters erupted.
Willie Fox (145) kept the roll going with a 4-2 win over Brian Salinas of Northview-Covina.
Resilient St. Francis senior Jorge Barajas (152) rebounded from a loss in the quarterfinals on Friday night and went 3-1 in consolation action and wound up fourth.
Bellarmine Prep’s Danny Chaid recovered from a tough loss to Khymba Johnson of Center-Antelope in the quarterfinals and reeled four straight wins to place third at 220 pounds. He even avenged the defeat to Johnson with a 4-0 decision in the third-place match.
Barajas is the seventh wrestler to win four CCS titles. He won previous titles at 145, 130 and 119 pounds, moving up in weight each year.
