The action will be underway at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, where the annual Elite 8 Duals (“The Dirty South vs. The World) has brought together some of the absolute best high school folkstyle wrestling talent in the country. With over 80 nationally ranked wrestlers making their way to the Atlanta area, the spotlight is burning bright on the West Coast contingent making serious noise across multiple elite club rosters.

Topping the California-heavy storylines is Cormier Trained, spearheaded by UFC Hall of Famer and Gilroy High head coach Daniel Cormier. Coach DC has assembled an absolute buzzsaw of a lineup blending powerhouse programs from all over the Golden State—including Palm Desert, Gilroy, Clovis, Buchanan, St. John Bosco, and Oakdale.

Cormier Trained: California’s Elite on Display

The Cormier Trained roster reads like a CIF State podium preview, packed to the gills with state champions, medalists, and national-level hammers:

106 lbs – Ausome Guillermo: 2025 Super 32 Champion and Fargo 16U All-American. Starts the lineup with major firepower.

113 lbs – Eli Mendoza: Coming off a gritty 4th-place finish at the 2026 CIF State Tournament.

120 lbs – Anthony Garza: The reigning 2026 CIF State Champion looking to translate his golden state momentum to the national dual stage.

126 lbs – Jorge Rios: 2025 CIF 3rd-place finisher and Super 32 Champion.

132 lbs – Max Torrez: Battle-tested CIF State Qualifier ready to scrap against national competition.

150 lbs – Carlo Contino: 2026 CIF 5th-place medalist and dual NHSCA All-American (3rd).

157 lbs – Wyatt Lewis: 2026 CIF State Runner-Up bringing high-paced offensive pressure.

190 lbs – Mason Savidan: Another 2026 CIF State Silver Medalist anchoring the upper-middle weights.

215 lbs – Brian Haran: 2026 CIF 5th-place finisher who knows how to grind out critical team points.

285 lbs – Matthew Cooley: 2026 CIF 3rd-place medalist and Fargo All-American holding down the heavyweight slot.

Coast-to-Coast Flavor: California Stars on Other Franchises

The California footprint isn’t limited to just one bench. Several other marquee club rosters feature premier Golden State talent looking to inflict damage:

NJ Commission: Features 215-pounder Adan Castillo, a CIF State Qualifier and 6th-place state medalist who crossed state lines to bolster the New Jersey-backed lineup.

Team Thunder: Packed with premier depth, highlighted by Poway High standouts including Matthew Orbeta (CIF State placer, Fargo and Super 32 All-American at 138 lbs), Arseni Kikiniou (CIF placer, Fargo All-American, and World Championship Double All-American at 150 lbs), and Mario Carini (2x CIF State Champion, Fargo and Super 32 All-American at 190 lbs).

Valiant Prep: Anchored out west by elite-level talent like Del Oro and Clovis connections, featuring 165-pound Chase Young (2026 CIF 8th-place and Fargo 16U All-American) and heavyweight powerhouse Andrew Arroyo (2026 CIF State Runner-Up).

Weekend Schedule & Outlook

Saturday features a grueling five rounds of pool-play dual meets designed to separate the contenders from the pretenders. Sunday shifts into high gear with the championship quarterfinals, semifinals, placement duals, and the ultimate-stakes championship finals.

For the California wrestling faithful tracking from home, expect fireworks as our boys test their mettle against the best the country has to offer.