The California Community College Athletic Association (aka, 3C2A) State Wrestling Championships boast a rich history that began with their inaugural event in 1959, where Fresno City and San Bernardino Valley shared the first team title. Competing independently from the National Junior College Athletic Association, this unique championship has consistently produced highly competitive teams and individual athletes. Many of these wrestlers have advanced to successful careers at the NCAA and even the international level.

Currently, the 3C2A oversees 23 programs across California, stretching from the College of the Redwoods in the north to Imperial Valley in the south, which recently revived its program after a 45-year hiatus. While veteran coaches recall a peak of approximately 90 teams, my research indicates that 70 programs have medaled since 1959, with approximately 12 additional schools participating without reaching the podium.

Since its formation, the 3C2A championship landscape has been exclusive, with only 16 programs ever capturing a team title. Fresno City stands as the undisputed powerhouse with 18 championships. During the 1960s and early 1970s, El Camino and San Bernardino Valley led the field with five titles each. Chabot became the force of the mid -1970s and early 80s, securing five titles and earning a #1 national junior college ranking in 1982. Zack Papachristos, a legendary coach at Chabot during this period, states that, “Across fourteen seasons, my coaching emphasized excellence, aiming for state titles and individual potential. The 1970s and early 1980s were highly competitive, with over 70 state programs.“

For decades, Palomar has been a mainstay with six championships. Meanwhile, programs like Cerritos, Bakersfield, Moorpark, Sacramento City, and Santa Ana have each earned between three and five titles, respectively. Mt. San Antonio College (aka, Mt. SAC) has established itself as the modern powerhouse, capturing four championships since 2021. Other schools that have reached the summit include Rio Hondo (1979, ’87), College of the Sequoias (1982, ’84), Lassen (1986), Sierra (2007), and Diablo Valley (1970).

Paul Keysaw, the long-established head coach at Fresno City and member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, stands as the leading coach with thirteen state team titles. Keysaw, who was an NCAA Division I national champion and two-time All-American for CS Bakersfield, produced three titles during his tenure at Moorpark (1996 to 2005). Since taking the helm at Fresno City in 2006, he has guided the program to an impressive ten titles and 17 top three finishes. Beyond his 13 team titles, Keysaw’s tenure is marked by high caliber individual success, including 245 state placers, 161 All-Americans, and 59 individual state champions to date. According to Keysaw, “Coaching in the 3C2A has been a blessing for me and my family.  I have had the greatest job in the world, a wrestling Coach. I have been able to teach life through the sport of wrestling and help kids achieve dreams and reach goals and break the cycle. The 3C2A is a hidden gem in the wrestling world. The world needs more wrestlers.”

When it comes to programs earning their share of state medals, Fresno City also leads the pack with a total of 375. They are followed by Cerritos (357), Palomar (301), Bakersfield (245), Sac-City (239), Mt. SAC (237), Chabot (191), Modesto JC (187), Sierra (177), and Santa Ana (171). It’s also important to note that several discontinued programs were once on the same trajectory as the teams listed above. They include El Camino (122), Cypress (115), Diablo Valley and West Valley at 109. 

To date, no program has produced “100” individual state champions, but Fresno City is poised to reach this milestone. The Rams currently lead with 94 champions, followed by Cerritos (69), Mt. SAC (43), Palomar (38), Bakersfield (37), Sac-City and El Camino (both 33), Chabot (32), Santa Ana (30), and Sierra (22) to complete the top ten list. The record of individual champions in a single season is six by Fresno City in 2011. 

The 3C2A traditionally awards those wrestlers placing in the top 4 the designation of All-American. Once again, Fresno City leads the pack with 265, followed by Cerritos (224), Palomar (145), Bakersfield (140), Sac-City (130), Chabot (115), Mt. SAC (100), El Camino (95), Santa Ana and Sierra, each at 94, and Moorpark with 92. 

The 3C2A boasts a rich tradition of developing standout wrestlers who excel in NCAA, NAIA, and international competitions. Over several decades, numerous notable alumni have achieved NCAA All-American honors, including Mike Remer (Chabot/Cal Poly), Bob Anderson (El Camino/Adams State), Cliff Hatch (Diablo Valley/Cal Poly), Perry Shea (Cerritos/CS Bakersfield), Sylvester Carver (Chabot/Fresno State), Steve Markey (Chabot/CS Bakersfield), Paul Herrera (Golden West/Nebraska), Greg Jackson (Cerritos/SF State), Ati Conner (Moorpark/Nebraska), Victor Carazo (Modesto JC/Grand Canyon), and more recently Matt Gibson (Sierra/Iowa State), among many others.

Our 3C2A wrestling alumni have a strong record of success on the world stage. Many have advanced to international competition, with several achieving the ultimate goal: competing in the Olympics. Our Olympian alumni feature names like Charles Tribble (San Bernardino Valley), Buck Deadrich (Chabot), Joe Gonzales (East LA), and Heath Smiths (Cerritos). Jonovan Smith (Cerritos) is our most recent Olympian, having competed for Puerto Rico in the Paris Games. Greg Gibson (Shasta), an alumnus, is an Olympic silver medalist from the Los Angeles games and a three-time world medalist.

The 3C2A has a rich legacy as a foundation for athletic development spanning over six decades, navigating an uncertain future with resilience. A significant challenge arose in 1982 when the shift to a fall season forced coaches to choose between wrestling and football, nearly decimating the sport and causing dozens of programs to fold. Despite this setback, we are witnessing a modest comeback, with 23 active programs today, and some coaches believe more programs may be reinstated in the future. Personal experience competing for Chabot in the 1980s highlighted the importance of these opportunities, making the organization’s continued progress truly inspiring. Coaches and promoters alike should direct more prep athletes to the truly special and unique opportunities within the 3C2A wrestling association. It is definitely a gem worth preserving and building upon in the future years to come. 

3C2A WRESTLING PROGRAMS (As of 2025)

NORTHERN REGION (N)

1. Chabot 
2. College of the Redwoods 
3. Fresno City 
4. Lassen 
5. Modesto JC 
6. San Joaquin Delta 
7. Sacramento City 
8. Santa Rosa JC 
9. Shasta 
10. Sierra
11. Skyline 

SOUTHERN REGION (S)

1. Bakersfield 
2. Cerritos 
3. Cuesta 
4. East Los Angeles 
5. Imperial Valley (re-instated 2025)
6. Lemoore*
7. Moorpark 
8. Mt. San Antonio (Mt. SAC)
9. Palomar 
10. Rio Hondo 
11. Santa Ana 
12. Victor Valley 

*Formerly West Hills CC

Photo Credit – Chabot College Wrestling archives.