DRILLER WRESTLING CLUB

JANUARY, 2017

NEWSLETTER

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DRILLER WRESTLING CLUB

JANUARY 19, 2017

Doc Buchanan Invitational

With over 100 teams in attendance the Doc Buchanan Invitational tournament proved once again
to be one of the toughest high school tournaments in the country. Schools from all over California,
including nationally ranked Buchanan and Clovis, as well as schools from other states like Colorado
and Oregon arrived to compete at this prestigious tournament. While the competition was stacked
as always, the Drillers proved once again that they are capable of hanging with the very best. Led
by an outstanding performance by defending State Champion Navonte Demison, the Drillers
earned a 7th place team finish.

After missing the first half of the wrestling season to play football for the Drillers, the Doc
Buchanan was Demisons first tournament back. After securing a close 9-5 victory in the first round
Demison seemed to find his groove for the rest of the tournament. He won his next matches
handily, including a 12-1 major decision victory over Peyton Omania of De La Salle. Omania, a
former Greco-Roman World Team Member, is ranked 2nd in California and figures to be one of
Demisons biggest challengers this year. Omania came out in the finals with intensity, attempting
two big throws which Demison countered. After an initial flurry Demison was able to eectively
shut Omania down and secure the 12-1 win. Demison looks impressive despite missing much of the
season and figures to be the clear favorite heading into the State Championships in March.

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DRILLER WRESTLING CLUB

JANUARY 19, 2017

The Drillers also received strong performances from JJ Figueroa and Sam Loera, both of whom
earned 3rd place finishes. Figueroas only loss came to Jacob Greenwood of Poudre, Colorado. After
that loss Figueroa avenged two previous losses he suered earlier in the season, one to Tony
Mendoza of Selma and the other to Zander Silva of Alta Loma. These two big wins helped Figueroa
climb the California state rankings to the number 3 spot.

Loera advanced to the semi finals before suering his only loss of the tournament to Anthony
Montalvo of Buchanan HS, currently ranked #1 in California. Loera then won his next two
matches by scores of 5-4 and then 9-4 to finish in 3rd place. Like teammate JJ Figueroa, Loera is
currently ranked 3rd in California.
Ricky Gonzalez was the only other medalist for the Drillers. Gonzalez posted a record of 5 wins
with 2 losses on route to a 5th place finish. Izzak Olejnik came up just short of earning a medal.
After advancing to the top 12 he was one win away from finishing in the top 8.
BHS finished 7th as a team but was the 4th best California team, as the 3rd, 4th, and 6th place
teams came from Colorado, Oregon, and Colorado respectively.

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DRILLER WRESTLING CLUB

JANUARY 19, 2017

California State
Championship Tickets
Once again the California High School Wrestling State Championships return to
Bakersfield, CA. This March Rabobank Arena will be home to the toughest and
most exciting wrestling tournament in California. With home advantage the Drillers
will look to improve upon a 7th place team finish last year.
Navonte Demisons outstanding high school career has carved out a spot in the
Driller Wrestling history books, but this March he will look to cement himself as
one of the greatest wrestlers to ever come out of Bakersfield. Demison has already
placed 3rd, 2nd, and 1st in the California State Championships, and will look to add
another title to his resume.
Sam Loera, JJ Figueroa, and Izzak Olejnik all left Rabobank Arena as California
State Medalists in previous seasons. Now they will look to return to the State
Championships to add more awards to their collection. All are highly ranked this
season and should perform well at the end of the year.
Returning State Qualifiers Ricky Gonzalez and Dillon Cravens are eager to return to
Rabobank and fight their way onto the podium. This talented Driller Wrestling team
is currently ranked 4th in the State of California and should be exciting to watch in
March.

If you want to get in on the action and support your Driller

Wrestlers, please contact Andy or Hilary Varner soon to
order State Championship tickets:

661-444-0770
andyhilaryvarner@sbcglobal.net
The cost is $69 per ticket. This covers the cost of all
three sections and places you in section 114 with the rest
of the Driller Wrestling fans.
Please text or email with the number of tickets you want.
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DRILLER WRESTLING CLUB

JANUARY 19, 2017

Kern County
Invitational Results
The Drillers sent several wrestlers to Centennial High School to compete against local
competition. Four Drillers earned medals, including Jacob Annis who was the
tournament Champion. Annis faced Santana Rojas of Liberty, who was the #1 seed of
the tournament. Annis put on an impressive takedown display, controlling most of the
match and staving o a late flurry by Rojas to earn a 10-6 victory. Anniss younger
brother Jordan also had a successful day, advancing to the semifinals before earning a
5th place finish.
Valentin Marin also put together
a strong performance for the
Drillers. After dropping a close
match in the semifinals Marin
was perfect in his next two
matches, ultimately finishing in
3rd place.
Mosess Flores also advanced to
the semifinals after a strong first
day of competition, but was
forced to default his next three
matches. He finished the
tournament in 6th place.

Legacy Duals
The Drillers competed in the Legacy Duals at Frontier High School. Instead of the
usual individual based competition, the dual meet format emphasizes the strength of
the team overall. The Drillers won 3 of their duals, earning victories over Shafter,
Dinuba, and North, while dropping a match to Clovis North.
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DRILLER WRESTLING CLUB

JANUARY 19, 2017

Drillers in the Rankings:

Central Section:
120 - Andrew Bloemhof
126 - Izzak Olejnik
132 - Adrian Gonzalez
138 - JJ Figueroa
145 - Navonte Demison
152 - Dillon Cravens
160 - Ricky Gonzalez
182 - Sam Loera
Team -

3rd
4th
HM
2nd
1st
7th
3rd
2nd
4th

California State:
120 - Andrew Bloemhof
126 - Izzak Olejnik
132 - Adrian Gonzalez
138 - JJ Figueroa
145 - Navonte Demison
152 - Dillon Cravens
160 - Ricky Gonzalez
182 - Sam Loera
Team -

22nd
11th
35th
3rd
1st
13th
8th
3rd
4th

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DRILLER WRESTLING CLUB

JANUARY 19, 2017

2016-2017 Varsity Schedule

Dec 3

Rumble for the Rig @ HOME

Dec 9/10

Coyote Classic @ East HS

Dec 10

Clovis West Shootout @ Clovis West HS

Dec 16/17

Reno Tournament of Champions

Dec 29

Legacy Duals @ Frontier HS

Jan 6/7

Doc Buchanan Invitational @ Clovis HS

Dinuba Invitational @ Dinuba HS

Jan 13/14

Kern County Invitational @ Centennial HS

Jan 20/21

CIT Morro Bay @ Morro Bay HS

Jan 25

League Duals @ Centennial HS

Jan 27/28

Highland Invitational @ Highland HS

Feb 1

Frontier @ HOME

Feb 10

SWYL League Championships @ Frontier HS

Feb 17/18

Yosemite Valley Championships @ East HS

Feb 24/25

Central Section Masters @ Clovis HS

Mar 3/4

California High School State Championships

@ Rabobank Arena

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DRILLER WRESTLING CLUB

JANUARY 19, 2017

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

MG Constructors and Engineers - Terry Bedford - Appliance Clinic - Bakersfield Bird
Dogging Service - Morgan Corporation - Coyote Club - Varner Brothers - Clark Pest
Control - Northern Digital Inc - Barrentine Company - BHS Booster Club - Centennial
Medical Group - Dewars - Bill Lees Bamboo Chopsticks - Anthony Tobin - Advanced
Network Solutions - Sequoia Sandwich Company - NuFarm Americas Inc - Skateland Randy Graham - Skeet Varner - Onsurez Family - Daves Fabrications - Atchley
Insurance - MTS - San Joaquin Fence & Supply - Cataldos Pizzeria @ the Riverwalk Supreme Almonds of California - Sharon and Bill Varner - Vernon and Janis Varner Fred H Schoene - Ron and Kim Nickell - Denis and Pinki Maddox - Ernie Kochis - Jon
Edwards - Jose and Rosalle Figueroa - Justin and Andrea Golding - Todd Bassett - Ted
and Lorraine Bloemhof - Buck Bonilla - Lance McCullah - Larry and Kim Morgan Mike and Kim Mason - Robert Warkentin - Randy and Karla Bloemhof - Toby Nairn Mark Garrison - Mike and Mary Box - Daniel and Yolanda Cruz - Jeff Lopeteguy - Ed
and Sue Thomas - Sherman Lee - Pamela Povlak - David R Jones - Jodi Doane - Jeff
and LeeAnn Annis - Casey Lee - Barry Cales - Andy and Hillary Varner - Connie Misko
- Valari Lee - Ron and Vicki Richardson - Gene and Janice White - Darryl Pope - Jack
and Carol Doty - Linda Chitwood - Brian Perkins - Mike and Lori Mendoza - Mike and
Liz Ruder - John and Jean Olejnik - Taunya Deyoung - Eva Villa - John Burns - Matthew
Lee - Tom and Alicia Olejnik - Eric and Debbie Kinsel - Kenny Ellebracht - Daniel and
Kayla Atondo - Dale and Linda Annis - Mitch Rolow - Harold and Dawn Brown - Mark
and Cindy Cravens - Sharon Lee Levine - Abigail Lee - Connie E Collaso - Raymond
and Eloise Estrada - Maria Perez - Casey Lee - Mike and Heather Olejnik - Richard
Madsen - Sherman and Vicki Lee - Jack Skeen - Pat and Lisa Coyle - Patrick Acosta Lexey Swall - Dominic and Kathie Othart - Bill Frankhouser - Eurydice Darrington Hasmukh C Amin - Gilbert Guerrero

Its not about today, its about what we do today to prepare for March.

GO DRILLERS!
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