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Wrestler Spotlight – Dante Duke
Dante Duke – El Dorado HS
Welcome to the Third edition of “Wrestler Spotlight.” We will published one every week to give a wrestling description of a wrestler who is a strong candidate to be All-State. This week’s wrestler is a senior from one of the top teams in Southern California. This wrestler is making some noise and have garner some attention in the state. This individual may not always be ranked very high in the state but has made us take notice of him.
Dante Duke of El Dorado High was a state qualifier last season from the tough “Meat Grinder” known as the Southern Section. This season he has a record of 32-3 with all loses coming at 285 pounds. He has wrestled the majority of tournaments at 285 pounds but he recently dropped to the 220 pound class just in time to make another run to qualify for state. He has won The Ed Springs Invitational, The Kern County Invitational and has medaled at the El Dorado Invitational and the California Coast Classic Tournament.
Duke is an exciting wrestler to watch in every match he wrestles. One thing that stands out is his ability to control his hips. He uses them well on his counters, to maneuver away from moves that his opponents attempt on him to bring him down. A favorite move he uses to get his takedowns is a high crotch. He’s also a great wrestler from the top position. He has a series of arm bar moves that he does to take his opponents to their backs.
Duke has all the tools to be a very successful wrestler in college with his great mat awareness and the ability to adapt to any coaching style.
Duke is currently coached by Steve Lawson who was a California High School State Champion, 3X CIF SS Masters Champion, 3X CIF SS Champion, Junior National Champion, 4X Junior National All-American and 2X Espoir National Champion
Notable Wins: Justin Gillham (Oak Hills), Jesse Gomez (Buena Park), Jose Alvarez (Selma), Carlos Molina (Yorba Linda) and Anthony Farias (Santa Ana).
Episode 34 of The MatBoss Podcast is with four-time All-American and three-time NCAA Division I finalist Gerry Abas of Fresno State. Gerry Abas talks about his start in wrestling in the Bay Area and how his speed, quickness and flash on the wrestling mat had its foundations in break dancing in the 1980s.
He also talks about his classic match and loss to Iowa’s Lincoln McIlravy, coaching his younger brother Stephen at Fresno State, watching the school drop the program and his feelings about it at the time. Abas also speaks about his son Jaden and what we can expect from him on the next level.
Stephen Abas
Stephen Abas, 2008 Olympic silver medalist and three-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion at Fresno State, has been named head wrestling coach at Fresno High School.
“We are excited to welcome Coach Abas to Fresno Unified, knowing that he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with our Fresno High student-athletes,” said Fresno Unified Superintendent Bob Nelson.
The statement said Abas would take the helm of the Warriors wrestling program at Fresno High immediately.
As a wrestler at Fresno State University, Abas was a four-time NCAA All-American, winning three NCAA titles at 125 pounds in 1999, 2001, and 2002. Abas tallied a 144-4 overall record for the Bulldogs, including 46 pins. Abas’ career winning percentage of 97.3 percent is also a school record. For all these accomplishments, Abas was named the Fresno State Male Athlete of the Year in 1999 and 2001.
Stephen in high school (Canyon Springs HS & James Logan HS) was a 3X CIF state champion and a NHSCA National Champion in 1996.
Stephen Abas – Fresno State, 3X NCAA National Champion
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Registration/Workout 3:00 – 8:00 pm
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Round 1 Girls Championship Round 1 9:00 am – 11:30 am (10 mats)
Round 2 Girls Championship Round 2 11:30 am – 1:00 pm (10 mats)
Round 1 Boys Championship Pig Tail 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm (10 mats)
Round 2 Boys Championship Round 1 2:30 pm – 6:00 pm (10 mats)
Round 3 Boys Championship Round 2 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm (10 mats)
Round 4 Boys Consolation Pig Tails 7:30 pm – 8:45 pm (10 mats)
Friday, February 22, 2019
Round 5/3 Boys/Girls Consolation Round 1 9:00 – 12:00 pm (10/5 mats)
Round 6/4 Boys/Girls Consolation Round 2 12:00 – 3:00 pm (10/5 mats)
Round 7/5 Boys/Girls Quarterfinals/Consolation Round 3 3:00 – 6:00 pm (10/5 mats)
Round 8/6 Boys/Girls Consolation Round 4 6:00 – 7:30 pm (10/5 mats)
Round 9/7 Boys/Girls Consolation Round 5 7:30 – 8:30 pm (10/5 mats)
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Round 8/10 Girls/Boys Championship Semi-Finals 9:00 – 10:30 am (6 mats)
Round 8/11 Girls/Boys Consolation Semi’s 10:30 – 12:00 pm (6/3 mats)
Round 10/12 Girls/Boys 3rd/5th/7th Places 12:00 -2:00 pm (6/3 mats)
Final Round Championship Finals 5:05 pm (2 mats)
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State Rankings2 weeks agoCalGrappler California High School Wrestling Team Rankings
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State Rankings2 weeks agoCalGrappler California High School Wrestling Rankings – 106 lbs.
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State Rankings2 weeks agoCalGrappler California High School Wrestling Rankings – 126 lbs.
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State Rankings2 weeks agoCalGrappler California High School Wrestling Rankings – 120 lbs.
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State Rankings2 weeks agoCalGrappler California High School Wrestling Rankings – 113 lbs.
