ONE VISION, ONE STANDARD, AND ONE GOAL

For Lemoore College head coach Marcio Botelho, wrestling was never supposed to become a lifelong calling. It began almost by accident—a football coach’s suggestion, a new sport for a young immigrant from the island of São Miguel in the Azores who knew little about wrestling, and a decision that ultimately changed the trajectory of his life. Today, nearly two decades into his coaching career, Botelho finds himself on the other side of that journey, leading Lemoore College wrestling with a philosophy rooted in the same principles that shaped him: hard work, discipline, accountability, perseverance and the belief that wrestling can change lives.

But the numbers tell another important part of the story. Since taking over the Lemoore College program in 2017—when it was still known as West Hills College—Botelho has presided over a remarkable run of individual success. Based on the statistical record provided, his wrestlers have produced 23 3C2A State Championship medal finishes through 2025, including 13 All-American performances and four individual state championships. The list includes champions, finalists, multiple-time medalists and nationally recognized athletes, demonstrating that the program has consistently developed wrestlers capable of competing at the highest level of California community college wrestling.

The progression is particularly impressive because the production has occurred across multiple weight classes and generations of athletes. In 2017, Adrian Marrufo opened Botelho’s tenure with a fourth-place State Championship finish and All-American honors, while Jose Paiz added an eighth-place finish. Two years later, Jeronimo Cardosa reached the podium at 165 pounds with a fourth-place finish and All-American status, while Jude Miranda and Patrick Slatic also became State medalists. The program’s trajectory continued to accelerate.

The 2021 season represented one of the defining years of Botelho’s Lemoore College tenure. The Eagles produced three State champions and four All-American-level performers, led by Wayne Joint, Lupe Ayon and Angel Solis, all of whom captured State championships and All-American honors. Justin Tripp added a fourth-place All-American finish, while Taven Avila also reached the podium. Joint’s achievement was particularly notable: his championship marked the beginning of a two-year run in which he would again win the 141-pound title in 2022, while also earning Outstanding Wrestler recognition.

That championship-level production continued into 2022, when Joint again stood atop the podium and Tripp finished second at 184 pounds. In 2023, Gio Urbieta added a fifth-place State finish, while Taven Avila finished seventh at heavyweight. The program then produced another strong group in 2024, with Jimmy Reyes finishing third at 125 pounds and earning All-American honors, Urbieta placing third at 133 pounds and earning All-American recognition, Philip Arroyo finishing fourth at 165 and becoming an All-American, and Robert Felipe adding a sixth-place finish.

The 2025 season further reinforced the program’s ability to produce elite competitors. Juan Nuno finished second at 174 pounds and earned All-American honors, Robbie Rael placed fourth at 165 and became an All-American, while Chris Garza and Leo Ramirez also reached the State podium. Taken collectively, the figures demonstrate something larger than a handful of standout seasons: Lemoore College has become a consistent producer of State-level and All-American talent under Botelho.

The statistical profile becomes even more significant when viewed against Botelho’s earlier work at Lemoore High School. From 2009 through 2022, his high school teams produced 20 CIF State individual medal finishes, including five individual State championships. The program also recorded two Top-Five CIF State team finishes, placing fourth in 2010 and fifth in 2011.

Among the athletes who emerged from Botelho’s Lemoore High School program were some of the most accomplished wrestlers in the school’s history. Perhaps none stands taller statistically than Isaiah Martinez. Martinez captured three CIF State championships, winning titles in 2011, 2012 and 2013, while also placing third in 2010. His accomplishments extended beyond California, as he became a FLO Nationals champion in 2012 after finishing second in 2011, earned multiple high school All-American honors and was recognized by Amateur Wrestling News and Wrestling USA Magazine.

Martinez was not an isolated success story. Gary Joint became a CIF State champion in 2017 after finishing third in 2016, while Nicholas Sierra captured a State championship in 2010 and added a sixth-place finish in 2009. Sean Williams finished second in 2013, Brandon Rocha was a State finalist in 2009, and several other Botelho-coached athletes reached the podium, including Angel Solis, Will Kloster, Wayne Joint, Joe Romero, Noah Wright, Silverio Esparza, Steve Wood, Dillon Rocha and Jacob Pendleton.

But Botelho’s influence at Lemoore High School extended beyond the men’s division.

As the school’s girls wrestling coach, Botelho also played a significant role in developing some of the Central Valley’s early female wrestling talent. Among those athletes was Angelita Sanchez, who placed sixth at the 2017 CIF State Championships. He also coached Esperanza Cadena, who became a three-time CIF State medalist at 126 pounds, placing sixth, fifth and sixth from 2014 through 2016.

That commitment to developing girls and women wrestlers continued when Botelho moved into the community college ranks. In 2025–26, he helped establish and coach Lemoore College’s first women’s wrestling program, giving female wrestlers in the region a new collegiate pathway. The program made an immediate impact in its inaugural 3C2A season, producing three State medalists: Sage Reyes, who finished seventh at 145 pounds,  Esperanza Cadena Ortiz, who placed fifth at 160 pounds, and Destiny Barnes placing fifth at 235s.

The significance of that achievement extends beyond two names on a State Championship results sheet. Cadena Ortiz’s appearance on the collegiate podium also represents a remarkable continuation of the Lemoore wrestling pipeline, having previously been a three-time CIF State medalist under Botelho at the high school level. From developing girls at Lemoore High School to helping create the school’s first women’s collegiate program, Botelho has demonstrated that his vision for wrestling encompasses both male and female athletes.

The women’s program also adds another dimension to Botelho’s broader legacy. His coaching record can no longer be measured solely by the championships and All-American honors produced in the men’s division. His impact now includes the creation of opportunities for women to compete at the collegiate level—and the immediate production of State medalists in the program’s first season.

The high school numbers also reveal a pipeline that connects directly to the broader Lemoore wrestling tradition. Wrestlers developed under Botelho’s high school leadership went on to compete successfully at the community college level, while some of the names that emerged as elite high school athletes continued to influence the Lemoore wrestling culture as they advanced.

That pipeline is important because Botelho himself was once a product of the same Lemoore wrestling environment.

His own high school career provides context for the standard he later established as a coach. Wrestling for Lemoore High School under Hall of Fame coach Kent Olson, Botelho developed into one of California’s premier high school wrestlers. He became a two-time CIF State medalist, placing seventh in 1999 before winning the State championship in 2000. He also captured back-to-back CIF Central Section Masters championships in 1999 and 2000, earned three Fargo Junior All-American honors in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, and received high school All-American recognition from ASICS, Amateur Wrestling News and Wrestling USA Magazine.

He was also among the early California high school wrestlers to accomplish the prestigious Triple Crown, a distinction recognizing championship-level success in multiple styles and at the high school level.

Botelho’s success continued at Fresno State University, where he became an NCAA Division I All-American at 197 pounds in 2003, qualified for the NCAA Championships four times and was a four-time Western Athletic Conference finalist. His collegiate experience gave him another level of understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest level, while his time wrestling for Fresno State in front of the Central Valley community strengthened his connection to the region.

Yet Botelho is quick to recognize that his development did not happen in isolation.

At Lemoore High School, he learned under Kent Olson, the longtime coach who established a formidable wrestling tradition at the school. Olson’s tenure from 2006 through 2016 produced an extraordinary collection of State-level performers. During that period, Lemoore wrestlers recorded 35 CIF State medal finishes in the data provided, including numerous All-Americans and multiple State champions.

The Olson-era roster reads like a historical record of Lemoore wrestling excellence. Eric Orozco became a State champion and Outstanding Wrestler in 2011. Alex Perez and Derek Lee were State finalists, while Silverio Esparza, A.J. Jaramillo, Dustin Rocha, Shad Maingault, Jacob Merrell, Brett Land, Matt Garcia, Josh Newman and Norman Nail were among the wrestlers who earned State medals and/or All-American honors.

The statistics reveal an important continuity between Olson’s tenure and Botelho’s subsequent leadership. Olson helped establish and maintain a culture capable of producing State and national-level athletes; Botelho was first a beneficiary of that culture and later became one of its principal architects.

That continuity is arguably one of the most compelling aspects of Lemoore wrestling.

Botelho did not simply inherit a wrestling tradition—he experienced it firsthand as an athlete, learned from it, competed at the highest collegiate level, returned to coach at Lemoore High School and ultimately moved into the community college ranks. His coaching career therefore represents a rare full-circle journey: student, champion, college All-American, coach, mentor and program builder.

The statistical evidence supports that progression.

At the high school level under Botelho, Lemoore produced 20 CIF State medalists, five State championships and two Top-Five State team finishes. At the community college level, his program has generated 23 State medal finishes, 13 All-American performances and four individual State championships through the 2025 season. Several athletes have reached the podium multiple times, demonstrating not only individual talent but also the ability of the program to sustain development over multiple seasons.

Now, with the addition of women’s wrestling, that developmental model has expanded again. From Angelita Sanchez and Esperanza Cadena at the high school level to Sage Reyes and Esperanza Cadena Ortiz at Lemoore College, Botelho’s record demonstrates a commitment to building opportunities for girls and women as well as boys and men.

Those accomplishments help explain Botelho’s perspective on coaching. He understands what it feels like to be the young wrestler searching for direction. He knows the exhilaration of having a hand raised after a championship match. He knows the disappointment of losing. He understands the demands of college wrestling and the sacrifices required to reach the highest levels.

Most importantly, he understands what coaches can mean to a young athlete.

His own relationship with Fresno State National Wrestling Hall of Fame coach Dennis DeLiddo remains central to his philosophy. Botelho describes DeLiddo as much more than a coach—a father figure who helped shape him as a person. That influence is evident in Botelho’s approach to his own wrestlers. He believes coaches have a responsibility that extends well beyond teaching technique and preparing athletes for competition.

“Wrestling has taught me many life lessons,” Botelho explains. “The biggest lesson is that nothing is given to you—you have to earn it.“

That statement could easily serve as the statistical headline for his entire coaching career.

The numbers show wrestlers earning State medals. They show All-Americans. They show champions. They show athletes progressing from high school into the college ranks. They now show women earning State medals in a collegiate program that did not exist before Botelho helped build it. But Botelho’s definition of success extends beyond those statistics.

He wants his wrestlers to graduate. He wants them to transfer to four-year universities. He wants them to earn degrees, establish careers and become leaders. And he wants Lemoore College wrestling to be judged not only by championships, but by the lives its program influences.

That philosophy is reflected in the culture surrounding the program and in the coaching staff Botelho has assembled. Gary Joint, a former CIF State champion, Fresno State wrestler and NCAA qualifier, provides elite technical expertise. Roman Salcido brings more than 25 years of high school coaching experience. Justin McLelland, a former Fresno State teammate of Botelho, contributes technical knowledge and a winning mindset. Gio Urbieta, himself a Lemoore College junior college All-American, brings firsthand knowledge of the JUCO experience. Lorenzo Lopez, a former Lemoore wrestler, assists with the daily operation of the program, while Armando Calderon provides the consistency, loyalty and trust Botelho considers essential.

Together, they reflect Botelho’s philosophy of “one vision, one standard, and one goal.”

The results suggest that philosophy is working.

But perhaps the most revealing measure of Botelho’s impact is not contained in a State Championship bracket. It is found in the continuity of the Lemoore wrestling family. The young wrestler who once entered the sport because a football coach believed wrestling could make him better eventually became a State champion, a Fresno State All-American and a coach. The athlete who once learned discipline and accountability from Olson and DeLiddo now teaches those same principles to another generation.

And the cycle continues.

From Kent Olson’s era to Botelho’s high school tenure, from Botelho’s Lemoore College men’s program to the birth of the women’s program, and from today’s athletes to the next generation entering the room, the statistics tell the story of a program that has repeatedly produced high-level competitors while expanding opportunities for those who want to compete.

But the numbers only tell part of the story.

The larger story is about legacy—how one coach influences another, how one generation creates opportunities for the next, and how a sport can transform the lives of the people who embrace it.

Botelho’s record provides plenty of evidence that he knows how to develop champions.

His philosophy reveals that he believes the ultimate goal is to develop something even more important: people prepared to win at life.

And that may ultimately prove to be the most enduring statistic of all.

HEAD COACH AT LEMOORE COLLEGE [2017 – PRESENT]

AWARDS

• Named Conference Coach-of-the-Year, 2019, ‘21
• CIF Central Section Coach-of-the-Year, 2022-‘23 

3C2A STATE MEDALISTS [top 8] / ALL-AMERICAN HONORS [top 4]

141 – Chris Garza, 8^th Place ’25 

165 – Robbie Rael, 4^th Place / All-American ‘25

174 – Juan Nuno, 2^nd Place / All-American ’25 

197 – Leo Ramirez, 8^th Place ‘25

125 – Jimmy Reyes, 3^rd Place / All-American ‘24

133 – Gio Urbieta, 3^rd Place ’24 / All-American ’24 

165 – Philip Arroyo, 4^th Place / All-American ’24 

184 – Robert Felipe, 6^th Place ’24 

133 – Gio Urbieta, 5^th Place ’23 

285 – Taven Avila, 7^th Place ’23 

141 – Wayne Joint, State Champion / All-Americans [OW] ’22 

184 – Justin Tripp, 2^nd Place / All-American ’22 

141 – Wayne Joint, State Champion / All-American ’21 

141 – Lupe Ayon, State Champion / All-American ’21 

184 – Justin Tripp, 4^th Place / All-American ‘21

197 – Angel Solis, State Champion / All-American ’21 

285 – Taven Avila, 6^th Place ’21 

133 – Jude Miranda, 8^th Place ’19 

165 – Jeronimo Cardosa, 4^th Place / All-American ’19 

197 – Patrick Slatic, 6^th Place ’19 

157 – Joe Romero, 5^th Place ’18 

141 – Adrian Marrufo, 4^th Place / All-American ’17 

157 – Jose Paiz, 8^th Place ’17 

HEAD COACH – KENT OLSON [2006 – 2016] 

133 – Adrian Marrufo, 5^th Place ’16 

157 – Nathan Pimentel, 6^th Place ‘16

184 – Ivan Sevilla, 8^th Place ’16 

149 – Brock Dias, 4^th Place / All-American ’15 

174 – Lukas Bashan, 6^th Place ‘15

285 – Kyle Lincoln, 5^th Place ’15 

125 – Silverio Esparza, 4^th Place / All-American ’14 

133 – Alex Perez, 2^nd Place / All-American ’13 

285 – Derek Lee, 2^nd Place / All-American ’13 

125 – Silverio Esparza, 6^th Place ’12 

133 – Darrin Salazar, 7^th Place ‘12

142 – Michael Ruiz, 3^rd Place / All-American ’12 

157 – Francisco Rueda, 6^th Place ’12 

165 – Nathan Zarate, 5^th Place ‘12

184 – Michael Anderson, 7^th Place ‘12

197 – Henry Campos, 7^th Place ’12 

285 – Derrick Lee, 2^nd Place / All-American ’12 

133 – Eric Orozco, STATE CHAMPION / All-American ‘11 [OW]

141 – Alberto Arreola, 3^rd Place / All-American ‘11

165 – Josh Lujan, 6^th Place ’11 

184 – Mike Anderson, 8^th Place ’11 

197 – Jeff Montierro, 7^th Place ‘11

285 – Mike Perez, 6^th Place ’11 

125 – A.J. Jaramilo, 2^nd Place / All-American  ’10 

133 – Alex Perez, 5^th Place ’10 

165 – Dustin Rocha, 4^th Place / All-American ‘10

197 – Derek Sanchez, 7^th Place ’10 

125 – A.J. Jaramillo, 6^th Place ‘09

149 – Shad Maingault, 3^rd Place / All-American ’08 

184 – Matt Garcia, 6^th Place ‘08

197 – Jacob Merrell, 4^th Place / All-American ’08 

133 – Brett Land, 4^th Place / All-American ’08 

184 – Matt Garcia, 4^th Place / All-American ’07 

285 – Josh Newman, 7^th Place / All-American ’07 

197 – Norman Nail, 3^rd Place / All-American ’06 

*Formerly West Hills College [Prior to 2024]

TOP 5 3C2A TEAM FINISHES

2012 – 3rd Place  

2011 – 5^th Place 

SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

2019, 2021 

LEMOORE COLLEGE STATE MEDALISTS [3C2A Women’s Division]

145 – Sage Reyes, 7^th Place ’26 

160 – Esperanza Cadena Ortiz, 5^th Place ’26 

235 – Destiny Barnes, 5th Place ’26

COACHING ACCOLADES LEMOORE HS [2009 – 2022] 

CIF STATE MEDALISTS 

160 – Will Kloster, 8^th ’20 

126 – Wayne Joint, 5^th ’19 

160 – Will Kloster 8^th ’19 

126 – Gary Joint, 3^rd ‘16

132 – Gary Joint, STATE CHAMPION ’17 

138 – Joe Romero, 8^th ’17 

182 – Angel Solis, 6^th ’17 

285 – Noah Wright, 4^th ’17 

113 – Sean Williams, 2^nd ‘13

160 – Isaiah Martinez, STATE CHAMPION ’13 

152 – Isaiah Martinez, STATE CHAMPION ’12 

119 – Silverio Esparza, 8^th ’11 

140 – Isaiah Martinez, STATE CHAMPION ‘11

285 – Steve Wood, 4^th ‘11

103 – Dillon Rocha, 5^th ’10 

125 – Isaiah Martinez, 3^rd ‘10

152 – Nicholas Sierra, STATE CHAMPION ’10 

160 – Jacob Pendleton, 6^th ’10 

125 – Brandon Rocha, 2^nd ’09 

140 – Nicholas Sierra, 6^th ’09 

TOP 5 TEAM FINISHES AT CIF STATE

CIF State Team finish – 5^th 2011 

CIF State Team finish – 4^th 2010 

NHSCA ALL-AMERICAN

160 – Angel Solis, 6^th ’15 [Soph. Div.]

285 – Johnathan Roa, 8^th ’11 [Soph. Div.]

FLO NATIONALS ALL-AMERICANS

152 – Isiah Martinez, National Champion, 2012 / 2^nd ’11 [2x]

195 – Nate Lopez, 8^th Place, 2012 

ASICS H.S. ALL-AMERICANS

152 – Isaiah Martinez, Second Team ’12 / Third Team ’13 [2x]

AMATEUR WRESTLING NEWS SR H.S. ALL-AMERICANS

• Isaiah Martinez, 2013 

WRESTLING USA MAGAZINE SENIOR H.S. ALL-AMERICANS

• Gary Joint, 2017 
• Isaiah Martinez [Academic Team], 2013 
• Brandon Rocha [HM], 2009 

LEMOORE HIGH SCHOOL [CIF STATE PLACERS – GIRL’S DIV.]

• 106 – Angelita Sanchez, 6^th ’17 
• 126 – Esperanza Cadena, 3x State Medalists [6^th, 5^th, 6^th], 2014-’16 

BOTELHO’S PERSONAL WRESTLING ACCOLADES

Lemoore High School [CS]

• CIF State Champion, 2000
• 2x CIF State Medalist [7^th, 1^st], 1999 – ’00
• 2x CIF Central Section Masters Champion, 1999 – 2000 
• 3x Fargo Junior All-American [FS/GR], 1999 – 2000 
• ASICS H.S. All-American [HM], 2000 
• Amateur Wrestling News Senior H.S. All-American, 2000
• Wrestling USA Magazine Senior H.S. All-American, 2000  
• One of the first high school Triple Crown Champions in California

Fresno State University [FSU]

• NCAA Division I All-American [197s], 2003 
• 4x Western Athletic Conference [WAC] Finalist 
• 4x NCAA Division I Qualifier 

Photos courtesy of John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com and Chris Mora.

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