Hexton Coranado – Clovis HS

By Nick Giannandrea
The Fresno Bee – January 29, 2015

Clovis 39, Buchanan 15
106: Ethan Leake, B, p. Wyatt Cornelison, 4:11
113: Justin Mejia, C, tech fall Chris Gaxiola 24-6
120: Tristan Gilliland, C, d. Ross Arve 7-1
126: Joel Romero, B, d. Dylan Martinez 9-4
132: Durbin Lloren Jr., B, d. Brandon Martino 8-2
138: Khristian Olivas, C, d. Dean Esquibel 9-2
145: Greg Gaxiola, B, d. Jared Hill 7-5
152: Isaiah Hokit, C, maj. d. Conner Francis 10-2
160: Dominic Kincaid, C, win by forfeit
170: Josh Hokit, C, d. Anthony Montalvo 3-2
182: AJ Nevills, C, p. Cade Belshay 5:02
195: Adam Prentice, C, d. Peter An 7-5
220: Seth Nevills, C, d. Kai Dill 4-1
285: Hexton Coronado, C, d. Zakary Levatino 10-6.

There was a laser-light show, dramatic introductions reminiscent of Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls’ games, a center-stage spotlight and an absolutely rockin’ crowd packed in as tight as could be at the Rene Errotabere Center.

Area dignitaries, including Clovis Unified patriarch Doc Buchanan seated mat-side, all showed up to see the event of the year.

And for a prep wrestling dual treated like a Save Mart Center rock concert, Clovis High proved it is still the state’s headline attraction.

The Cougars extended their winning streak to 87 straight against California opposition Thursday night with a 39-15 victory in a Tri-River Athletic Conference dual between two of the nation’s top wrestling programs.

Clovis entered No. 4 in the nation by InterMat Wrestling and No. 1 in the state by The California Wrestler, while Buchanan is ranked No. 6 nationally and No. 2 in the state.




The event draw an announced 2,500 fans, with several hundred being turned away at the door after ticket sales ended at 7:05 p.m., Bears Athletic Director James Gambrell said.

“This was an awesome experience,” Clovis’ Adam Prentice said. “You can’t beat a Clovis-Buchanan dual. It was a show.”

Prentice rallied in the third period to beat Peter An 7-5 at 195 pounds, the third of five straight Clovis wins to open the match. Josh Hokit (170), AJ Nevills (182), Seth Nevills (220) and Hexton Coronado (285) also won as the Cougars built an 18-0 lead.

Buchanan got its first win, a pin by 106-pounder Ethan Leake to cut the gap to 18-6, but Justin Mejia responded for Clovis with a technical fall that pushed the Cougars’ lead to 23-6. Mejia, last season’s California 106-pound champion, entered ranked No. 1 in the Central Section and state.

“I love wrestling in this atmosphere,” Mejia said. “This is where I wrestle my best. No one can beat me when it’s crazy like this. I don’t get nervous.”

Wins from Joel Romero and Durbin Lloren Jr. kept hopes alive for Buchanan, which was the last team from California to beat Clovis in 2007, but the Cougars would win three of the final four matches.

“It was nice having that big crowd,” Lloren said. “The wrestling itself was good and bad. Some guys didn’t carry their weight, then we also had two freshmen (Leake and Romero) win.”

Buchanan was without state No. 9-ranked 145-pounder Kyler Hansen, who is lost for the season with a knee injury, and state No. 3 160-pounder Abner Romero was a semi-healthy scratch as Bears coach Troy Tirapelle eases him back into action following a hand injury.

“The one thing I liked was we went out and gave it everything we had,” Tirapelle said. “In the past I felt we haven’t always given our best effort, but I didn’t question that tonight.”

Also winning matches were Clovis’ Tristian Gilliland (122), Khristian Olivas (138), Isaiah Hokit (152) and Dominic Kincaid (160), while Greg Gaxiola (145) was Buchanan’s other winner.