FRESNO, CA — Just hours after fighting to a hard-earned third-place finish in the Greco-Roman division, the Sac-Joaquin Wrestling Association (SJWA) proved they are the undisputed kings of California freestyle. Putting together a flawless 5-0 run through a gauntlet of the state’s toughest regional powerhouses, SJWA captured the 2026 CAUSAW Boys Freestyle Association Dual Championship breathtakingly.

SJWA’s march to the crown was a masterclass in total team effort, combining lightning-fast bonus-point pins with a deep, battle-tested lineup that refused to break under pressure.

Pool Play: Surviving a First-Round Scare

SJWA opened the tournament with an instant classic against the Los Angeles Wrestling Association (LAWA). Handing LAWA an effortless 5-0 lead due to an opening forfeit at 100 lbs, SJWA’s lightweights aggressively clawed their way back. Cody Holtberg (106 lbs) and Bryce Dacoco (120 lbs) ignited the bench with first-period pins under the one-minute mark, while Frank Fuentes (113 lbs) picked up a dominant 12-2 Technical Fall.

LAWA answered with a ferocious middleweight surge, rattling off four straight wins—including a 26-second pin from Lincoln Chung (138 lbs) and technical superiority wins from Caden Garriott (132 lbs) and Arno Vardanyan (144 lbs)—to leap ahead 23-16.

The squads traded heavy blows through the upper middleweights. Michael Coelho (150 lbs) stopped the bleeding for SJWA with a swift 50-second fall, and Edward Sheeran (157 lbs) cruised to a 12-2 tech fall. Still, LAWA answered back via tech falls from Chris Anguiano (165 lbs) and a 22-second blitz by Efosa Osayande (175 lbs) to hold a 33-25 advantage with just three weights left.

Needing near-perfection, SJWA’s heavy hitters delivered. Jeremiah Mora (190 lbs) set the table with a 14-2 technical fall, and Carter Vannest (215 lbs) left no room for doubt with a flawless 10-0 technical fall in just 37 seconds, pushing SJWA ahead 34-33. Heavyweight Matthew Cooley (285 lbs) iced the dual with a disciplined, masterful 10-1 decision over Brian Haas, sealing a spectacular 37-35 victory.

Riding that wave of momentum, SJWA cruised through the remainder of pool play, dismantling the Bay Area Wrestling Association (BAWA) 48-19 and routing the Tri-County Wrestling Association (TCWA) 43-25 to punch their ticket to the bracket.

The Semifinals: SAWA Edges SDIKWA in a Razor-Thin Thriller

While SJWA awaited their opponent, the other side of the championship bracket bore witness to an absolute track meet between the Sacramento Area Wrestling Association (SAWA) and the San Diego Imperial Kids Wrestling Association (SDIKWA).

SAWA took an early 10-6 lead behind grinding decisions from Angelo Cruz (100 lbs) and Lennox Cruzat (106 lbs), alongside a lightning-fast 46-second tech fall from Declan Leonard (120 lbs). The middleweights turned into a high-scoring shootout. Jimmy Jimenez (126 lbs) and Nathaniel Mitchell (138 lbs) scored critical points for SAWA, while SDIKWA answered with tech falls from Timothy Walker Jr. (132 lbs) and an 18-5 explosion from Ames-Michael Hoevker (144 lbs) to keep it a tight 19-16 contest.

The turning point came in the upper middleweights. Though SDIKWA’s Gabriel Pacheco ground out a 13-8 decision at 150 lbs to close the gap to one, SAWA unleashed a brutal three-match technical fall assault. Orion Hill (157 lbs) secured an 11-0 shutout in 46 seconds, followed by dominant tech falls from Chase Young (165 lbs) and Richard Creer Jr. (175 lbs), ballooning the lead to 31-18.

SDIKWA mounted a furious, heart-stopping heavyweight rally. Jovanni Mansour (190 lbs) took an 8-4 decision, and Lewis Fofanah (215 lbs) brought the crowd to its feet with a massive 1:21 pin to bring the score to 33-30. In the final match, SDIKWA’s John Hellmann (285 lbs) did exactly what he was supposed to do, dominating for a 14-4 technical fall. However, because SAWA’s Rene Delgado managed to score 4 points in defeat, he salvaged a single, vital classification point. That lone point tied the heavyweight match point distribution but officially saved the dual for SAWA, sending them to the finals with a breathtaking 34-33 win.

The Finals: SJWA Overpowers SAWA to Claim the Crown

The championship final promised fireworks, and it did not disappoint. SAWA looked to carry their semifinal magic forward, jumping out to an immediate 11-7 lead. Angelo Cruz took a forfeit at 100 lbs and Lennox Cruzat cruised to a 12-0 technical fall. SJWA punched back immediately as Frank Fuentes (113 lbs) secured a 12-2 tech fall and Bryce Dacoco (120 lbs) outlasted his opponent in a thrilling 15-10 shootout.

The middleweights belonged entirely to SJWA as they weaponized bonus points to seize control. Gavin Hill (126 lbs) won a grueling war of attrition to secure a fallback pin at 4:44, Cole Cronan (132 lbs) picked up a dominant 14-4 technical fall, and Helo Blackwell (144 lbs) flatlined his opponent in a crisp 1:36. SAWA’s lone response was a spectacular 27-second pin from Nathaniel Mitchell (138 lbs), but the tide had shifted to an SJWA 21-18 lead. With the state title hanging in the balance, the heavy hitters traded haymakers. Michael Coelho extended the SJWA advantage with a gritty 10-8 decision at 150 lbs, and Edward Sheeran delivered a thunderous second-period pin at 157 lbs. SAWA’s star upper weights fought back valiantly; Chase Young took a tight 7-4 decision at 165 lbs, and Richard Creer Jr. kept SAWA’s hopes alive with a crucial third-period pin at 175 lbs to bring the score to a razor-thin 30-29 in favor of SJWA.

SAWA briefly took a dramatic, dynamic 32-31 lead after Seregy Lyamin fought his way to an 8-3 decision at 190 lbs. But with the championship on the line, SJWA’s final two hammers slammed the door shut.

Carter Vannest (215 lbs) completely electrified the arena, scoring an unbelievable, lightning-fast 17-second pin to instantly return the lead to SJWA. Heavyweight Matthew Cooley (285 lbs) then put the exclamation point on the weekend, putting on a flawless technical clinic for a 10-0 shutout victory.

With the final whistle, the scoreboard read 40-29—capping off an unforgettable weekend for the Sac-Joaquin Wrestling Association, the 2026 California Freestyle State Dual Champions.