From High School Powerhouses to National Champions: The Athletes, Programs, and Pipeline That Defined Junior College Wrestling Excellence.
By Al Fontes, NWHOF Writer
For nearly five decades, California wrestlers have stood at the center of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Championships, producing national champions, repeat All-Americans, and elite competitors who advanced to NCAA and NAIA success, international medals, and professional combat sports careers.
From powerhouse junior college programs such as Clackamas Community College (Oregon City, OR) and Iowa Central Community College to the historic foundation of Lassen College (Susanville, CA), California-developed athletes have consistently elevated the national stage with depth, technical excellence, and championship pedigree drawn from every region of the state.
Champions Who Defined an Era
California wrestlers have captured NJCAA national titles across multiple decades and weight classes, establishing a sustained championship tradition from the 1990s into the modern era.
Notable national champions include:
- Paul Gomez (Lassen College) — 118 lbs, National Champion (1996)
- Jose Sanchez (Lassen College) — 126 lbs, National Champion (1998)
- Willie Parks (Iowa Central CC) — 184 lbs, National Champion (2002)
- Dustin Rogers (Southwestern Oregon CC) — HWT National Champion (2005)
- Glenn Rhees (North Iowa Area CC) — 174 lbs, National Champion (2008)
- Billy Murphy (Iowa Central CC) — 133 lbs, National Champ & OW (2009)
- Trent Noon (Clackamas CC) — 174 lbs, National Champion (2013)
- Adrian Salas (Clackamas CC) — 184 lbs, National Champion (2014)
- Colt Doyle (Clackamas CC) — 174 lbs, National Champion (2017)
- Elijah Ozuna (Clackamas CC) — 141 lbs, National Champion (2019)
- Antonio Andrade (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) — HWT National Champion (2019)
- Alex Ramirez (Clackamas CC) — 157 lbs, National Champion (2022)
- Austin “Rocky” Raby (Clackamas CC) – 165 lbs., National Champion (2024)
- Gavin Bauder (Clackamas CC) – 133 lbs., National Champion (2025)
Together, these champions reflect the competitive range and sustained excellence of California-developed talent across virtually every weight class in the NJCAA landscape.
Historical Note: Lassen College’s Transition Between Associations
Lassen College played a unique and influential role in shaping California’s junior college wrestling legacy across multiple competitive eras. After the 1989 season, Lassen departed the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) and transitioned into the NJCAA, competing on the national stage against programs from across the country.
During its NJCAA tenure, Lassen continued to produce national champions, qualifiers, and All-Americans while helping elevate the visibility of California-developed talent within the broader national junior college wrestling landscape. After several seasons of national competition, the program eventually returned to the 3C2A, where it rejoined California’s community college framework while maintaining its reputation as one of the state’s foundational wrestling powerhouses.
Multi-Time All-Americans and Sustained Excellence
Beyond individual champions, California has produced a deep lineage of repeat NJCAA All-Americans defined by consistency, durability, and national-level competitiveness.
Heavyweight standout Cohle Feliciano earned three consecutive NJCAA All-American honors at North Idaho College, placing 7th (2020), 4th (2021), and 4th (2022).
Trent Silva became a two-time All-American for Clackamas Community College, placing 5th (2021) and 6th (2022), while Austin Morehead established himself as a two-time national finalist at 184 pounds.
Nick Pica delivered back-to-back third-place finishes for Iowa Central in 2010 and 2011.
Other multi-time NJCAA All-Americans include Joe Soto, Vincent Pisani, Martin Gonzalez, Rudi Burtschi, Adrian Salas, Austin “Rocky” Raby, Reggie Raiz, and Demitrist Huff.
Many of these athletes advanced to NCAA Division I programs, international wrestling stages, or professional MMA careers, further extending California’s competitive influence far beyond junior college wrestling.
Clackamas Pipeline, California Impact, and a New Era of Leadership
No program outside California has benefited more from California wrestling than Clackamas Community College.
From 2011 through 2026, California athletes at Clackamas produced:
- Multiple national champions
- Dozens of All-American finishes
- National finalists across nearly every weight class
The program became a premier destination for California standouts—particularly from the Central Valley and Sac-Joaquin regions—solidifying a modern pipeline of elite junior college talent.
Legacy of Leadership: Rhoden to Sanchez
The modern era of Clackamas wrestling is defined by continuity through two leaders—legendary head coach Josh Rhoden and his successor Brett Sanchez.
Rhoden spent 16 seasons as head coach of the Cougars (2006–2022), guiding the program through a “golden era.” During his tenure, Clackamas captured five NJCAA national championships (2011, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022), produced 101 All-Americans, and compiled a 169-36-2 dual record—the best in school history. He was named NJCAA National Coach of the Year four times and was inducted into the NJCAA Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2024.
Sanchez’s coaching foundation was built directly under Rhoden, serving on his staff before ultimately succeeding him as head coach in 2022. A former CIF State medalist at Clovis High School and two-time NJCAA All-American for Clackamas, Sanchez represents a full-circle continuation of California’s developmental pipeline.
Since taking over the program, Sanchez has sustained Clackamas’ national prominence, earning Region 18 Coach of the Year honors in 2023 and 2025 and West Regional Coach of the Year honors in 2026. In 2024, he led Clackamas to an NJCAA National Dual Meet Championship.
Beyond competition, Sanchez has maintained a strong academic culture, with nine NJCAA Academic All-Americans in 2023 alone. From 2019–2021, during his time as associate head coach under Rhoden, he helped guide an additional 24 All-Americans, bridging two eras of championship-level success.
Today, Sanchez represents both the legacy and future of Clackamas wrestling—a product of California’s pipeline who now leads it at the national level.
California High School Powerhouses
The NJCAA All-American pipeline is deeply rooted in California’s high school wrestling ecosystem, where several programs have consistently developed national-caliber athletes:
- Clovis High School (CS)
- Gilroy High School (CC)
- Oakdale High School (SJ)
- Poway High School (SD)
- Buchanan High School (CS)
- Chico High School (N)
- Atascadero High School (S)
CIF Sections Driving NJCAA Success
The Central Section (CIF) stands as the most productive NJCAA pipeline in California wrestling history, producing the highest concentration of All-Americans and national champions. Programs such as Clovis, Buchanan, Mission Oak, Selma, Frontier, Edison, and Porterville have consistently developed elite talent, including national champions Elijah Ozuna, Adrian Salas, and Jose Sanchez.
Closely following is the Sac-Joaquin Section (CIF), known for its depth and sustained excellence. Programs like Oakdale, Hughson, Atwater, Folsom, and Hogan have produced champions and All-Americans such as Billy Murphy, Trent Noon, Jamill Kelly, Rudi Burtschi, Kyle Richards, and Tyler Noon.
The Southern Section (CIF) has also delivered significant national success, with standout athletes from Chino, El Modena, Atascadero, Upland, and Foothill, including national champions Alex Ramirez, Glenn Rhees, and Willie Parks.
Among individual programs, Clovis and Gilroy stand out as premier pipelines, consistently producing All-Americans and finalists across multiple eras. Oakdale, Poway, Atascadero, Chico, and Windsor have also played major roles in developing national-caliber talent.
A Legacy Still Expanding
From early NJCAA podium finishes in the late 1970s to modern-day All-Americans such as Mark Marin and Paul Ortiz, California continues to shape the national junior college wrestling landscape.
One of the clearest examples of this developmental pipeline reaching its highest level is Jamill Kelly of Atwater. After reaching the NJCAA national finals at Lassen College, Kelly ascended to the world stage, capturing an Olympic Silver Medal at the 2004 Athens Games. His journey underscores the elite developmental role California junior college wrestling continues to play on the international stage.
Closing Perspective
The record is unmistakable: national champions, repeat All-Americans, heavyweight standouts, Olympic medalists, and one of the deepest high school pipelines in the country.
California’s influence on NJCAA wrestling is not episodic—it is foundational, sustained, and still expanding.
NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION [NJCAA]
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
133 – Gavin Bauder (Clackamas/Clovis North/Buchanan, CS), 2025
165 – Austin “Rocky” Raby (Clackamas/West Valley HS, N), 2024
157 – Alex Ramirez (Clackamas/Chino HS, S), 2022
141 – Elijah Ozuna (Clackamas/Frontier, CS), 2019
285 – Antonio Andrade (NE Oklahoma/Gilroy HS, CC), 2019
174 – Colt Doyle (Clackamas/Poway HS, SD), 2017
184 – Adrian Salas (Clackamas/Clovis HS, CS), 2014
174 – Trent Noon (Clackamas/Oakdale HS, SJ), 2013
133 – Billy Murphy (Iowa Central/Hughson HS, SJ), 2009 [OW]
174 – Glenn Rhees (North Iowa Area/Atascadero HS, S), 2008
285 – Dustin Rogers (SW Oregon/Corning HS, N), 2005
184 – Willie Parks (Iowa Central /Calvary Chapel HS, S), 2002
126 – Jose Sanchez (Lassen /Edison HS, CS), 1998
118 – Paul Gomez (Lassen /North Monterey HS, CC), 1996
MULTIPLE-TIME NJCAA ALL-AMERICANS
165/174 – Austin Raby (SW Oregon/West Valley HS, N): 4th (2021), 7th (2023), 1st (2024)*
149 – Reggie Raiz (Clackamas/Buchanan, CS): 5th (2024), 6th (2026)
Cohle Feliciano (North Idaho/ Fremont HS, CC): 4th (2021), 7th (2020), 4th (2022)*
Trent Silva (Clackamas / Windsor HS, NC): 6th (2022), 5th (2021)
Adrian Salas (Clackamas / Clovis HS, CS): 4th (2015), National Champion (2014)
Martin Gonzalez (Clackamas / Gilroy HS, CC): 6th (2012), 4th (2011)
Austin Morehead (Clackamas / Sutter HS, N): 2nd (2012), 2nd (2011)
Nick Pica (Iowa Central / Concord HS, NC): 3rd (2011), 3rd (2010)
Joe Soto (Iowa Central / Porterville HS, CS): 2nd (2007), 3rd (2006)
Vinny Pisani (Iowa Central / El Modena HS, S): 2nd (2010), 5th (2009)
Rudi Burtschi (Clackamas / Oakdale HS, SJ): 6th (2012), 4th (2009)
Brett Sanchez (Clackamas / Clovis HS, CS): 3rd (2011), 7th (2009)
Trent Noon (Clackamas / Oakdale HS, SJ): National Champion (2013), 4th (2012)
Demitrist Huff (Lassen / Upland HS, S): 3rd (1997), 7th (1996)
*COVID YEAR
ALL-AMERICANS [Year-by-Year]
149 – Reggie Raiz (Clackamas/Buchanan HS, CS), 6th Place, 2026
285 – Mark Marin (Clackamas/Clovis HS, CS): 7th Place, 2026
133 – Gavin Bauder (Clackamas/Clovis North/Buchanan, CS): NATIONAL CHAMPION, 2025
157 – Josh Hannan (Clackamas/Arcata HS, NC): 7th Place, 2024
149 – Reggie Raiz (Clackamas/Buchanan, CS): 5th Place, 2024
165 – Austin “Rocky” Raby (Clackamas/West Valley HS, N), NATIONAL CHAMPION, 2024
174 – Paul Ortiz (Clackamas/Imperial HS, SD): 5th Place, 2024
174 – Austin “Rocky” Raby (Clackamas/West Valley HS, N): 7th 2023
125 – Nicolas Aguilar (Clackamas/Gilroy HS, CC): 4th Place, 2022
133 – Justin Mejia (Clackamas/Clovis HS, CS): 2nd Place, 2022
149 – Victor Jacinto (Clackamas/Gilroy HS, CC): 3rd Place, 2022
157 – Alex Ramirez (Clackamas/Chino HS, S): NATIONAL CHAMPION, 2022
174 – Trent Silva (Clackamas/Windsor HS, NC): 6th Place, 2022
285 – Cohle Feliciano (North Idaho College/Fremont HS, CC): 4th Place, 2022
285 – Kyle Richards (Clackamas CC/Folsom HS, SJ): 6th Place, 2022
157 – Trent Silva (Clackamas CC/Windsor HS, NC): 5th Place, 2021
174 – Austin “Rocky” Raby (SW Oregon/West Valley HS, N): 4th Place, 2021
285 – Cohle Feliciano (North Idaho College/Fremont HS, CC): 4th Place, 2021
285 – Cohle Feliciano (North Idaho College/Fremont HS, CC): 7th Place, 2020
141 – Elijah Ozuna (Clackamas/Frontier, CS): NATIONAL CHAMPION, 2019
149 – Tony Mendoza (Niagara/Selma, CS): 5th Place, 2019
157 – Joel Romero (Clackamas/Buchanan, CS): 2nd Place, 2019
197 – Joey Daniel (Clackamas/Santa Ana, S): 2nd Place, 2019
285 – Antonio Andrade (NE Oklahoma/Gilroy HS, CC): NATIONAL CHAMPION, 2019
141 – Ralph Tovar (Clackamas/Poway HS, SD): 4th Place, 2018
184 – Nick Maximov (Clackamas/Chico HS, N): 3rd Place, 2018
285 – Darryl Aiello (Clackamas/De La Salle HS, NC): 6th Place, 2018
125 – David Campbell (Clackamas/Mission Oak HS, CS): 2nd Place, 2017
157 – Josh Leal (Clackamas/Chico HS, N): 7th Place, 2017
174 – Colt Doyle (Clackamas/Poway HS, SD): NATIONAL CHAMPION, 2017
149 – Chris Garcia (Clackamas/Clovis West HS, CS): 2nd Place, 2016
174 – Tyler Noon (Highline College/Oakdale HS, SJ): 7th Place, 2016
184 – Adrian Salas (Clackamas/Clovis HS, CS): 4th Place, 2015
285 – Richard Black, III (Neosho College/Cesar Chavez HS, SJ): 2nd Place, 2015
141 – Matt Gay (Southwest Oregon/Clovis HS, CS): 5th Place, 2014
149 – Elijah Davis (Northwest Kansas Tech/Archbishop Riordan HS, CC): 7th Place, 2014
184 – Adrian Salas (Clackamas/Clovis HS, CS): NATIONAL CHAMPION, 2014
133 – Cody Tow (Northwest Kansas Tech/Union Mine HS, SJ): 3rd Place, 2013
174 – Trent Noon (Clackamas/Oakdale HS, SJ): NATIONAL CHAMPION, 2013
133 – Martin Gonzalez (Clackamas/Gilroy HS, CC): 6th Place, 2012
174 – Trent Noon (Clackamas/Oakdale HS, SJ): 4th Place, 2012
184 – Austin Morehead (Clackamas/Sutter HS, N): 2nd Place, 2012
197 – Rudi Burtschi (Clackamas/Oakdale HS, SJ): 6th Place, 2012
133 – Martin Gonzalez (Clackamas/Gilroy, CC): 4th Place, 2011
184 – Austin Morehead (Rend Lake College/Sutter HS, N): 2nd Place, 2011
184 – Brett Sanchez (Clackamas/Clovis, C): 3rd Place 2011
197 – Nick Pica (Iowa Central/Concord HS, NC): 3rd Place, 2011
157 – Matt Melendrez (Clackamas/California HS, S): 4th Place, 2011
141 – Vinny Pisani (Iowa Central/El Modena HS, S): 2nd Place, 2010
184 – Nick Pica (Iowa Central/Concord HS, NC): 3rd Place, 2010
285 – Roger McCovey (North Idaho College/Del Norte HS, NC): 2nd Place, 2010
125 – Brian Moreno (Iowa Lakes College/Foothill HS, S): 6th Place, 2009
133 – Billy Murphy (Iowa Central/Hughson HS, SJ): NATIONAL CHAMPION *OW, 2009
141 – Vinny Pisani (Iowa Central/El Modena HS, S): 5th Place, 2009
157 – Zac Taylor (Neosho College/James Lick HS, CC): 8th Place, 2009
197 – Rudi Burtschi (North Idaho College/Oakdale HS, SJ): 4th Place, 2009
197 – Brett Sanchez (Clackamas/Clovis HS, C): 7th Place, 2009
174 – Glenn Rhees (North Iowa Area/Atascadero HS, S): NATIONAL CHAMPION, 2008
141 – Joe Soto (Iowa Central/Porterville HS, C): 2nd Place, 2007
141 – Joseph Michel (Southwestern Oregon/San Fernando HS, LA): 8th Place, 2007
184 – Nate Willard (Iowa Central/Atascadero HS, S): 5th Place, 2007
141 – Joe Soto (Iowa Central/Porterville HS, C): 3rd Place, 2006
125 – John Rojas (Lassen/Canyon Springs, S): 7th Place, 2005
285 – Dustin Rogers (SW Oregon/Corning HS, N): NATIONAL CHAMPION, 2005
285 – Dathan Miller (Lassen/Will C. Wood HS, SJ): 2nd Place, 2003
184 – Willie Parks (Iowa Central /Calvary Chapel HS, S): NATIONAL CHAMPION, 2002
141 – Oliver Vasquez (Lassen /Madera HS, CS): 5th Place, 2001
184 – Matt Bates (Lassen /Lassen HS, N): 8th Place, 2000
126 – Jose Sanchez (Lassen /Edison HS, CS): NATIONAL CHAMPION, 1998
190 – Demitrist Huff (Lassen/Upland HS, S): 3rd Place, 1997
118 – Paul Gomez (Lassen /North Monterey HS, CC): NATIONAL CHAMPION, 1996
134 – Jamill Kelley (Lassen /Atwater HS, SJ): 2nd Place, 1996
190 – Demetrist Huff (Lassen /Upland HS, S): 7th Place, 1996
285 – Chad Mast (Muskegon College/Clovis HS, CS): 2nd Place, 1996
150 – Tim Johnson (Diablo Valley/Hogan HS, SJ): 6th Place, 1979
167 – Richard Sykes (Diablo Valley/Hogan HS, SJ): 5th Place, 1979
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