California’s National Champions and Collegiate Standouts

California high school wrestling has long been recognized for producing exceptional state champions, nationally ranked competitors and future NCAA standouts. But when evaluating the state’s greatest wrestlers, one of the most important questions is what happened after high school.

A wrestler’s CIF State finish provides an important measure of high-school achievement. It does not, however, tell the entire story.

Some California wrestlers who became NCAA Division II All-Americans were CIF State champions. Others were state finalists or medalists. Some qualified for the CIF State Championships but never placed. And, perhaps most significantly, a number of eventual NCAA All-Americans never qualified for the CIF State Championships at all.

That reality is central to the methodology of California’s Top 100 Wrestlers project.

The purpose of TIER 3 — NCAA DIVISION II COLLEGIATE ALL-AMERICANS is to recognize California wrestlers whose abilities extended beyond the high-school level and ultimately earned national recognition through NCAA Division II competition. Their accomplishments demonstrate that a wrestler’s full potential cannot always be measured by performance at a single high-school tournament—or even by whether they qualified for or placed at the CIF State Championships.

This tier highlights wrestlers who continued to develop after high school and established themselves among the nation’s best collegiate competitors. Future articles will apply the same evaluation to California wrestlers who achieved All-American and national-level success in NCAA Division III, NAIA, and NJCAA competition.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NCAA DIVISION II ALL-AMERICAN STATUS

NCAA Division II wrestling is a demanding national level of competition. Becoming an All-American means a wrestler advanced deep into the NCAA Championships and proved capable of competing with the best wrestlers in the country.

That makes Division II All-American status much more than simply competing at the collegiate level. It is a national achievement and a clear measure of collegiate excellence.

The accomplishment becomes even more significant when a wrestler earns All-American honors multiple times or wins an NCAA Division II individual championship.

This tier recognizes wrestlers according to the level and consistency of their collegiate success:

• NCAA Division II national champions
• Four-time NCAA Division II All-Americans
• Three-time NCAA Division II All-Americans
• Two-time NCAA Division II All-Americans
• One-time NCAA Division II All-Americans
• Wrestlers who earned Division II All-American honors along with All-American honors in other collegiate divisions

These accomplishments are viewed within the context of each wrestler’s complete competitive journey. In many cases, a wrestler’s true ability and impact cannot be fully measured by what happened in high school alone.

BEYOND THE STATE TOURNAMENT: CALIFORNIA’S NCAA DIVISION II ALL-AMERICANS

One of the most revealing findings in this research is the number of California wrestlers who either did not qualify for the CIF State Championships or qualified but did not place and subsequently became NCAA Division II All-Americans.

The 59 wrestlers identified in this category came from nine of California’s ten CIF sections, providing a broad geographic representation of California’s wrestling depth.

The Southern Section produced the largest number, with 15 wrestlers, accounting for 25.4 percent of the group. The Sac-Joaquin Section followed with 14 wrestlers, or 23.7 percent. Combined, those two sections produced 29 of the 59 wrestlers, representing 49.2 percent of the entire group.

The North Coast Section ranked third with nine wrestlers, representing 15.3 percent, while the Central Coast Section produced seven wrestlers, or 11.9 percent. When those four sections—Southern, Sac-Joaquin, North Coast and Central Coast—are combined, they account for 45 of the 59 wrestlers, or 76.3 percent of the entire group.

Thus, more than three-quarters of the wrestlers identified in this study came from just four CIF sections.

The San Francisco Section contributed five wrestlers, representing 8.5 percent of the group. The Central Section and Northern Section each produced three wrestlers, or 5.1 percent apiece. The San Diego Section accounted for two wrestlers, representing 3.4 percent, while the Oakland Section produced one wrestler, or 1.7 percent. No wrestler in this particular dataset is identified from the Los Angeles City Section.

THE HIGH-SCHOOL PATHWAY IS EVEN MORE REVEALING

Perhaps more significant than the geographic distribution is the high-school competitive status of these athletes before they reached the collegiate level.

Of the 59 NCAA Division II All-Americans identified, 26—or 44.1 percent—did not qualify for the CIF State Championships at all.

The remaining 33 wrestlers, or 55.9 percent, qualified for the CIF State Championships but are not identified in the supplied data as having earned a CIF State medal.

In other words, nearly one-half of the California wrestlers in this group never qualified for the CIF State Championships, while more than half qualified but did not place.

That finding is particularly revealing.

CIF State qualification is an important measure of high-school achievement. Yet among these 59 eventual NCAA Division II All-Americans, it did not necessarily predict an athlete’s ultimate collegiate potential.

These wrestlers competed in one of the nation’s deepest high-school wrestling environments, where section-level competition could prevent highly talented athletes from reaching the State Championships. Others reached the State tournament but were unable to earn a medal.

Their careers demonstrate that elimination from the high-school State tournament was not necessarily elimination from the highest levels of wrestling achievement.

THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS WHO NEVER MADE CIF STATE

Several athletes in this group went considerably beyond simply becoming collegiate All-Americans.

Steve Draper and Morris Johnson did not qualify for the CIF State Championships but ultimately became NCAA Division II national champions and two-time All-Americans.

Their careers provide particularly powerful examples of the limitations of using CIF State results as the sole measure of a wrestler’s eventual ability.

Draper, representing Mission Viejo High School in 1974, did not qualify for CIF State before continuing to CSU Bakersfield. He ultimately became an NCAA Division II national champion and two-time All-American.

Johnson, representing Sacramento High School in 1980, likewise did not qualify for CIF State. He continued to San Francisco State and ultimately became an NCAA Division II national champion and two-time All-American.

Their careers are among the clearest demonstrations that a wrestler’s high-school State tournament résumé does not necessarily establish his competitive ceiling.

Others in this category—including Mario Decaro, Bob Rinehart, Jene Burris, Don Williams and Andy Wilson—also developed into multiple-time NCAA Division II All-Americans despite not qualifying for the California State Championships.

These careers are not merely interesting exceptions. Collectively, they provide measurable evidence of the depth of California wrestling talent.

A DIFFERENT MEASURE OF CALIFORNIA’S WRESTLING DEPTH

The broader significance of this group is therefore historical as well as statistical.

The 59 wrestlers demonstrate that California’s wrestling talent was considerably deeper than CIF State Championship results alone might indicate.

A wrestler’s inability to qualify for State—or failure to earn a State medal—did not necessarily represent the ceiling of that athlete’s ability.

Instead, collegiate wrestling provided another opportunity for development.

Many of these athletes ultimately demonstrated their ability against some of the best wrestlers in the country. Their NCAA All-American honors, national championship appearances and individual titles provide measurable evidence that their wrestling careers continued to develop long after their high-school State Championship opportunities had ended.

The numbers reinforce that point:

59 California wrestlers in this category ultimately became NCAA Division II All-Americans.

26, or 44.1 percent, never qualified for the CIF State Championships.

33, or 55.9 percent, qualified for State but are not identified in the supplied data as having earned a CIF State medal.

The Southern and Sac-Joaquin sections alone accounted for 29 wrestlers, or 49.2 percent of the group.

Four sections—Southern, Sac-Joaquin, North Coast and Central Coast—produced 45 wrestlers, or 76.3 percent of the total.

For a historical examination of California’s greatest wrestlers, this distinction is important.

CIF State performance represents a snapshot of a wrestler’s high-school career. NCAA All-American status represents achievement at the national collegiate level.

The careers of these 59 wrestlers demonstrate that the two measurements do not always align.

In many cases, the wrestler who was overlooked, eliminated at the section level or unable to reach the CIF State Championships was far from finished.

Their subsequent collegiate careers provide some of the strongest examples of California wrestling’s depth, development and untapped potential.

NCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

California has produced a remarkable collection of NCAA Division II national champions. Their backgrounds demonstrate perhaps better than any other group why collegiate achievement must be considered when evaluating a wrestler’s overall career.

Joey Davis — Santa Fe HS (S), 2012

Joey Davis stands at the very top of California’s Division II wrestling legacy.

A two-time CIF State champion and three-time state finalist from Santa Fe High School, Davis continued at Notre Dame College and produced one of the most extraordinary careers in collegiate wrestling history.

Davis won four consecutive NCAA Division II national championships, capturing titles in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

His accomplishment occupies a unique place in collegiate wrestling history. Tim Wright of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville became the first wrestler in NCAA history to win four individual national championships, accomplishing the feat from 1984 through 1987. Davis became the second collegiate wrestler to win four NCAA Division II titles.

He then added another distinction: he became the first NCAA Division II wrestler to win four national championships while completing his career undefeated.

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame lists Davis with a perfect 133-0 collegiate record, while the NCAA’s current championship-record document records him at 131-0. Despite that statistical discrepancy, the historical achievement is clear: Davis completed an undefeated four-year career while winning four consecutive NCAA Division II championships.

His four titles came at three different weights—165, 174 and 184 pounds—demonstrating that his success extended beyond a single weight class.

Davis ultimately joined an exceptionally small group of NCAA wrestlers who finished undefeated while winning four national championships, alongside Division I legend Cael Sanderson and Division III standout Marcus LeVesseur.

Davis is therefore not simply a California NCAA Division II champion. He represents an extraordinary combination of championship success, sustained excellence and collegiate perfection.

A Career Defined by Statistical Rarity

The significance of Davis’s career becomes even clearer when viewed through participation and achievement statistics.

Approximately 0.8 percent of high-school wrestlers continue into NCAA Division II wrestling—roughly 1 out of every 125 high-school wrestlers.

Using the 0.034 percent figure cited for high-school wrestlers who ultimately reach the level represented by NCAA Division II All-American honors, that equates to approximately 1 All-American for every 2,941 high-school wrestlers.

These figures illustrate the competitive funnel. Reaching NCAA Division II is itself an accomplishment achieved by only a small percentage of high-school wrestlers. Becoming a Division II All-American represents an even more exclusive level.

Joey Davis did not simply reach that level.

He dominated it.

His progression can be viewed as:

High-School Wrestler
↓
NCAA Division II Wrestler
↓
NCAA Division II All-American
↓
NCAA Division II National Champion
↓
Four-Time National Champion
↓
Undefeated Collegiate Career

At every stage, the competitive population becomes smaller. Davis successfully navigated that progression and ultimately established himself at the summit of NCAA Division II wrestling for four consecutive seasons.

An Extreme Outlier Within an Already Selective Population

The mathematical significance should be stated carefully.

The 0.8 percent and 0.034 percent figures should not simply be multiplied to create a supposed probability of Davis becoming an undefeated four-time national champion. They represent different points in the wrestling participation and achievement pipeline and do not establish the independent probabilities required for such a calculation.

Their value is contextual.

If approximately 1 in 125 high-school wrestlers reaches NCAA Division II, and approximately 1 in 2,941 reaches the level represented by the cited Division II All-American statistic, Davis’s career represents something considerably rarer still: he reached that highly selective population and then produced four consecutive national championships without a collegiate defeat.

That makes Davis an extreme statistical outlier within an already exceptionally selective population.

One national championship demonstrates that a wrestler reached the highest level on one occasion. Four demonstrate sustained excellence across multiple seasons. Doing so while remaining undefeated adds another dimension entirely.

Davis did not merely accumulate championships.

He demonstrated sustained competitive perfection at the highest level of NCAA Division II wrestling.

Why 4× National Champion + Undefeated Matters

Many outstanding NCAA wrestlers have won national championships, and others have completed undefeated collegiate careers. Combining an undefeated career with four NCAA national championships, however, places Davis in one of the most exclusive groups in NCAA wrestling history.

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame recognizes Davis among the small group who accomplished that combination, alongside Cael Sanderson and Marcus LeVesseur.

Davis’s accomplishment therefore represents far more than “4× NCAA Division II Champion.” It represents:

• Four national championships
• Four seasons of championship-level consistency
• An undefeated collegiate career
• The first D-II career to combine four titles with an undefeated record
• Achievement within a level reached by only a very small percentage of high-school wrestlers

A Particularly Significant Achievement for California Wrestling

For California wrestling, Davis’s career carries additional significance.

California has produced generations of state champions, collegiate All-Americans, national champions and international competitors. Davis demonstrates that the state’s wrestling pipeline can produce athletes capable of progressing through the collegiate ranks and ultimately achieving historic national dominance.

His career also reinforces an important point for this Tier 3 project:

A high-school résumé alone does not fully measure a wrestler’s eventual competitive ceiling.

The transition from high school to college eliminates the overwhelming majority of wrestlers from NCAA competition. Among those who make that transition, only a fraction reach All-American status.

Davis then separated himself from that already elite population by winning the national championship four consecutive times while never losing.

The Bottom Line

Joey Davis should be evaluated not simply as a four-time NCAA Division II national champion, but as an athlete who achieved sustained perfection after advancing through one of the most selective competitive pathways in amateur wrestling.

The approximately 0.8 percent reaching NCAA Division II is the beginning of the statistical story—not the end.

Davis reached that small population, rose to its highest level, and remained there for four consecutive seasons without a defeat.

Four NCAA Division II national championships. An undefeated collegiate career. A historic first.

That combination makes Joey Davis one of the most statistically extraordinary collegiate wrestlers produced by California.

Mauricio Wright — Folsom HS (SJ), 1999

Mauricio Wright was a CIF State finalist from Folsom High School before continuing his career at San Francisco State.

He became a two-time NCAA Division II national champion and four-time All-American, establishing himself as one of California’s outstanding Division II competitors.

Abner Romero — Buchanan HS (CS), 2016

Abner Romero was a three-time CIF State medalist from Buchanan High School, finishing as high as second.

His national credentials extended beyond California, including a NHSCA Senior National Championship.

At the collegiate level, Romero became an NCAA Division II national champion and two-time All-American, continuing California’s tradition of producing high-level national competitors.

Mark Loomis — Bella Vista HS (SJ), 1978

Mark Loomis was a CIF State champion and two-time state medalist from Bella Vista High School.

He subsequently won a California community-college state championship at Sacramento City College before continuing to CSU Bakersfield.

Loomis ultimately became an NCAA Division II national champion and three-time All-American, illustrating the progression from California high-school success to community-college championship success and ultimately national collegiate achievement.

Steve Markey — Alameda HS (NC), 1979

Steve Markey was a CIF State champion and two-time state medalist from Alameda.

After winning a 3C2A state championship and earning All-American honors at Chabot College, Markey continued to CSU Bakersfield.

He ultimately became an NCAA Division II national champion and All-American.

Mike Bull — South Bakersfield HS (CS), 1973

Mike Bull was a CIF State champion who also distinguished himself nationally in freestyle competition.

After continuing his career at CSU Bakersfield, Bull became an NCAA Division II national champion and three-time All-American.

Tom Gongora — Clovis HS (CS), 1974

Tom Gongora was a CIF State champion from Clovis High School who continued his career to the NCAA Division II level.

He became an NCAA Division II national champion and two-time All-American.

Greg Jackson — Santa Monica HS (S), 1988

Greg Jackson was a two-time CIF State medalist and a 3C2A state champion and All-American at Cerritos College.

He continued to San Francisco State and became an NCAA Division II national champion and two-time All-American.

Johnny Lopez — Poway HS (SD), 2022

Johnny Lopez was a two-time CIF State medalist from Poway.

After continuing his career at San Francisco State, Lopez became an NCAA Division II national champion and All-American, adding his name to California’s long list of Division II champions.

Victor Carazo — Grace Davis HS (SJ), 2006

Victor Carazo was a CIF State finalist and a 3C2A state champion and All-American at Modesto Junior College.

After moving to Grand Canyon, Carazo became an NCAA Division II national champion and three-time All-American.

Luke Parham — Cajon HS (S), 1988

Luke Parham was a CIF State finalist from Cajon High School.

He later became an NCAA Division II national champion and All-American at Humboldt State.

Matt Blevin — Mountain View HS (CC), 1981

Matt Blevin placed fourth at the CIF State Championships before continuing his career at San Francisco State.

He became an NCAA Division II national champion and two-time All-American.

Pacifico Garcia — Clovis HS (CS), 2001

Pacifico Garcia was a CIF State finalist from Clovis.

At San Francisco State, he became an NCAA Division II national champion and two-time All-American.

Terry Tuzzolino — Capistrano Valley HS (S), 1994

Terry Tuzzolino finished second at the CIF State Championships before continuing his career at San Francisco State.

He became an NCAA Division II national champion and All-American.

Tim Briggs — Granite Hills HS (SD), 1985

Tim Briggs finished fourth at the CIF State Championships and later continued his career at North Dakota State.

He became an NCAA Division II national champion and two-time All-American.

Todd Wilcox — Folsom HS (SJ), 2006

Todd Wilcox finished fifth at CIF State and subsequently won a 3C2A state championship and All-American honors at Sierra College.

At Grand Canyon, he became an NCAA Division II national champion and All-American.

Daxton Gordon — Brawley HS (SD), 2015

Daxton Gordon finished fifth at the CIF State Championships before continuing to Cal Baptist.

He became an NCAA Division II national champion and All-American.

Eric Lessley — San Marin HS (NC), 1979

Eric Lessley finished sixth at the CIF State Championships and later continued his career at Humboldt State.

He became an NCAA Division II national champion and two-time All-American.

Pat Huyck — Lompoc HS (CS), 1981

Pat Huyck finished fifth at CIF State and continued his career at CSU Bakersfield.

He ultimately became an NCAA Division II national champion and All-American.

Lee Lofton — American HS (NC), 1992

Lee Lofton reached the CIF State tournament but did not place, advancing to the Round of 12.

He later competed for San Francisco State and became an NCAA Division II national champion and two-time All-American.

Steve Draper — Mission Viejo HS (S), 1974

Steve Draper represents one of the clearest examples of why high-school State placement cannot be used as the sole measure of a wrestler’s ultimate ability.

Draper did not qualify for the CIF State Championships, yet went on to CSU Bakersfield and ultimately became an NCAA Division II national champion and two-time All-American.

Morris Johnson — Sacramento HS (SJ), 1980

Morris Johnson likewise did not qualify for CIF State.

He continued his career at San Francisco State and became an NCAA Division II national champion and two-time All-American.

His career is another powerful example of the difference between high-school tournament results and long-term wrestling development.

FOUR-TIME NCAA DIVISION II ALL-AMERICANS

Francis Aquino — Vintage HS, 1990

Francis Aquino finished fourth at the CIF State Championships before continuing his career at San Francisco State.

He became a four-time NCAA Division II All-American, placing him among California’s most accomplished Division II collegiate wrestlers.

While he did not win an NCAA championship, four All-American performances demonstrate an extraordinary level of sustained national excellence.

THREE-TIME NCAA DIVISION II ALL-AMERICANS

Nolan Kistler — Martin Luther King HS (S), 2014

Nolan Kistler was a two-time CIF State medalist, placing eighth and fifth.

He continued to Cal Baptist and became a three-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Rick Goodwin — Oceana HS (CC), 1985

Rick Goodwin finished fourth at CIF State before continuing his career at San Francisco State.

He became a three-time NCAA Division II All-American.

TWO-TIME NCAA DIVISION II ALL-AMERICANS

California’s two-time Division II All-American group is particularly significant because it demonstrates the breadth of the state’s collegiate talent.

State Champions and High-Level State Medalists

Rod Balch — Clovis HS (CS), 1974
CIF State Champion; Wrestling USA All-American; CSU Bakersfield; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Mark Hall — Cabrillo HS (S), 1976
Third at CIF State; CSU Bakersfield; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Marty Maciel — Paramount HS (S), 1975
Fifth at CIF State; CSU Bakersfield; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Russ Jones — Roseville HS (SJ), 1980
Sixth at CIF State; CSU Sacramento; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Tim Laycik — Thousand Oaks HS (S), 1983
Sixth at CIF State; UC Davis; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Ryan Fillingame — Sultana HS (S), 2008
Seventh at CIF State; NHSCA Senior All-American; Adams State; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Nick Fiegener — Folsom HS (SJ), 2014
CIF State champion and two-time medalist; NHSCA Senior National Champion; NHSCA age-group All-American; Cadet Fargo Greco-Roman All-American; ASICS honoree; Wrestling USA All-American; Cal Baptist; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Steve Hilas — Vacaville HS (SJ), 1992
CIF State champion and two-time medalist; Cadet and Junior Greco-Roman National Champion; San Francisco State; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Curtis Schurkamp — Escalon HS (SJ), 2004
Three-time CIF State medalist; San Francisco State; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Brett McNamar — Clayton Valley HS (NC), 1981
CIF State finalist; Chico State; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Joey Wilson — Half Moon Bay HS (CC), 2007
Third at CIF State; Nebraska-Kearney; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Naveed Bagheri — Los Gatos HS (CC), 2007
Fifth at CIF State; San Francisco State; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

STATE QUALIFIERS WHO BECAME TWO-TIME NCAA DIVISION II ALL-AMERICANS

The following wrestlers provide another important layer to the story.

They reached the CIF State Championships but did not earn a State medal. Their subsequent collegiate careers, however, placed them among the nation’s elite.

Walter Ulrich — Corning HS (N), 1982
CIF State qualifier; two-time 3C2A All-American at Butte College; Chico State; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Kevin Dugan — Dublin HS (NC), 1976
CIF State qualifier; Chabot 3C2A All-American; CSU Bakersfield; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Dustin Kirk — Elsinore HS (S), 2013
CIF State qualifier; Cerritos CC; 3C2A All-American, King University; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Donald Lockett — Lowell HS (SF), 2000
CIF State qualifier; San Francisco State; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

John Kuintzle — Ukiah HS (NC), 1977
CIF State qualifier; Chico State; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Drew Dunbar — Miramonte HS (NC), 1998
CIF State qualifier; San Francisco State; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Rich Ellingsen — Capuchino HS (CC), 1984
CIF State qualifier; San Francisco State; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Roger Herrera — Fremont-Oakland HS (O), 1977
CIF State qualifier; Chabot 3C2A All-American; CSU Bakersfield; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

WRESTLERS WHO DID NOT QUALIFY FOR CIF STATE BUT BECAME TWO-TIME NCAA DIVISION II ALL-AMERICANS

Perhaps no category better demonstrates the limitations of evaluating wrestlers solely by CIF State results.

These wrestlers did not qualify for the CIF State Championships but went on to become two-time NCAA Division II All-Americans.

Mario Decaro — Terra Nova HS (CC), 1979
Did not qualify for CIF State; San Francisco State; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Bob Rinehart — Royal HS (S), 1973
Did not qualify for CIF State; Chico State; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Jene Burris — Mira Loma HS (SJ), 1974
Did not qualify for CIF State; Chico State; two-time NCAA Division II All-American and NCAA Division II finalist.

Don Williams — Mesa Verde HS (SJ), 1978
Did not qualify for CIF State; Chico State; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Andy Wilson — Cordova HS (SJ), 1975
Did not qualify for CIF State; American River College 3C2A medalist; CSU Sacramento; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

These careers are impossible to explain through CIF State placement alone.

CALIFORNIA’S BROADER NCAA DIVISION II ALL-AMERICAN LEGACY

The Division II national champions and multiple-time All-Americans represent the highest portion of this tier, but California’s overall legacy extends much further.

CIF State Champions Who Became NCAA All-Americans

Adrian Smedley — Elk Grove HS (SJ), 1978
CIF State champion and two-time medalist; NCAA Division III and Division II All-American at Humboldt State.

Navonte Demison — Bakersfield HS (CS), 2017
Two-time CIF State champion and four-time medalist; Junior Fargo All-American; NHSCA Senior All-American; Junior Folkstyle National Champion; Cadet Folkstyle National Champion; two-time Cadet All-American; Wrestling USA All-American; NCAA Division II All-American at Adams State.

Howard Lawson — El Dorado HS (S), 1981
Two-time CIF State champion; CSU Bakersfield; NCAA Division II All-American.

Leon Iannarelli — Fairfield HS (SJ), 1973
CIF State champion; Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; NCAA Division II All-American.

Garen McDonald — Livermore HS (NC), 1980
CIF State champion; Chabot 3C2A state champion and two-time All-American; CSU Bakersfield; NCAA Division II All-American.

Matt Olejnik — Cupertino HS (CC), 1981
CIF State champion; CSU Bakersfield; NCAA Division II All-American.

Erin Razo — Trinity HS (N), 1990
CIF State champion; NHSCA Senior National Champion; Wrestling USA All-American; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Damon Broadbent — Elsinore HS (S), 1993
CIF State champion; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.

STATE MEDALISTS WHO BECAME NCAA ALL-AMERICANS

California’s list of state medalists who later earned collegiate All-American honors is extensive.

Among them:

Ricky Garcia — Santa Fe HS (S), 2000
Two-time CIF State medalist; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Tony Darone — Liberty-Brentwood HS (NC), 1986
Two-time CIF State medalist; Chico State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Martin Ramirez — Elk Grove HS (SJ), 2012
Two-time CIF State medalist; NHSCA Junior and Senior All-American; Adams State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Blu Taylor — El Camino HS (SJ), 1986
Two-time CIF State medalist; two-time 3C2A All-American (Sac City); UC Davis; NCAA Division II All-American.

John Monolakis — Hillsdale HS (CC), 1977
Two-time CIF State medalist; San Francisco State; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Jimmy Savala — Clovis HS (CS), 2006
Two-time CIF State medalist; NCAA Division II All-American.

Isaiah Hurtado — Sheldon HS (SJ), 2010
Two-time CIF State medalist; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Additional state medalists who reached All-American status include Mike Monroe, Michael Lowman, Polo Ornelas, Rich Gutierrez, Joe Lopez, Lee Noble, Rich Sykes, Michael Dallas, Max Schurkamp and Peter Anquiano.

Rich Sykes is particularly notable because his collegiate career included NJCAA All-American, NCAA Division III All-American and NCAA Division II finalist/All-American honors at Humboldt State.

FOURTH, SIXTH, SEVENTH, AND EIGHTH-PLACE CIF STATE FINISHERS WHO BECAME NCAA ALL-AMERICANS

A wrestler’s place at CIF State does not necessarily establish the ceiling of his career.

California produced numerous wrestlers who finished outside the top three at State and later became NCAA Division II All-Americans.

Among them:

• Jordan Gurrola — North Torrance (S), 2013: fourth at CIF State; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.
• Scott Horrillo — Roseville (SJ), 1986: fourth; Chico State; NCAA Division II All-American.
• Justin Pichedwatana — Mayfair (S), 2016: fourth; NHSCA Senior All-American; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.
• Don Garriott — West Torrance (S), 1986: fourth; Chico State; NCAA Division II All-American.
• Brad Morton — Mira Costa (S), 1974: fourth; Chico State; NCAA Division II All-American.
• Steve Cook — Crestmoor (CC), 1974: fourth; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.
• Mike Anderson — Foothill-Bakersfield (CS), 1974: fourth; CSU Bakersfield; NCAA Division II All-American.
• Steve Franklin — Middleton (NC), 2006: fourth; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.
• Steve Nickell — East Bakersfield (CS), 1978: sixth; CSU Bakersfield; NCAA Division II All-American.
• Erick Gritz — El Capitan (SJ), 1975: sixth; UC Davis; NCAA Division II All-American.
• Andrew Steffen — So. San Francisco (CC), 1981: sixth; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.
• Scott Teuscher — Woodland (SJ), 1979: sixth; CSU Bakersfield; NCAA Division II All-American.
• Robert Watkins — Mission San Jose (NC), 1983: sixth; Humboldt State; NCAA Division II All-American.
• Zackary Parker — Fountain Valley (S), 2022: sixth; Glenville State; NCAA Division II All-American.
• Ted Bristol – Temecula Valley (S), 2006; seventh; Grand Canyon; NCAA Division II All-American
• Brady Bersano — Clovis (CS), 2011: seventh; Cal Baptist; NCAA Division II All-American.
• Isaiah Jimenez — Palma (CC), 2008: eighth; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.

CIF STATE QUALIFIERS WHO BECAME NCAA ALL-AMERICANS

The list becomes even more revealing when it reaches wrestlers who qualified for State but never placed.

Among these were:

Bryden Lazaro — Bella Vista HS (SJ), 2009
Two-time CIF State qualifier; NHSCA Senior All-American; two-time NAIA All-American; Cal Baptist; NCAA Division II All-American.

Ben Lockett — George Washington HS (SF), 2005
Two-time CIF State qualifier; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Marty Kouyoumtjian — Rosemead HS (S), 1986
Two-time CIF State qualifier; Chico State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Brad Gerl — Calvary Chapel-Downey HS (S), 2010
Two-time CIF State qualifier; Cal Baptist; NCAA Division II All-American.

Joshua Nolan — Quincy HS (N), 2007
CIF State qualifier; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Eddie Franco — East Union HS (SJ), 1975
CIF State qualifier; CSU Sacramento; NCAA Division II All-American.

Luke Santos — North Torrance HS (S), 2000
CIF State qualifier; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Paul Healy — Downey HS (S), 1994
CIF State qualifier; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Terry Osborne — South Hills HS (S), 1980
CIF State qualifier; CSU Bakersfield; NCAA Division II All-American.

Christian Smith — Rim of the World HS (S), 2014
CIF State qualifier; Cal Baptist; NCAA Division II All-American and finalist.

Sean Solis — Fountain Valley HS (S), 2020
CIF State qualifier; University of Mary; NCAA Division II All-American.

Trenton Munoz — Valencia HS (S), 2020
CIF State qualifier; Nebraska-Kearney; NCAA Division II All-American.

Tony Trabucco — Torrance HS (S), 1981
CIF State qualifier; Chico State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Todd Geerts — Saint Francis HS (CC), 1979
CIF State qualifier; UC Davis; NCAA Division II All-American.

Kydyn Lima — Millikan HS (S), 2022
CIF State qualifier; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Charley Cheney — Lompoc HS (S), 1977
CIF State qualifier; 3C2A All-American; CSU Bakersfield; NCAA Division II All-American and finalist.

Bill Kropog — Monache HS (CS), 1978
CIF State qualifier; Chico State; NCAA Division II All-American.

George Acosta — Lawndale HS (S), 1979
CIF State qualifier; Chico State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Kevin Newsome — Vacaville HS (SJ), 1977
CIF State qualifier; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American and finalist.

Adrian Levexier — Balboa HS (SF), 1982
CIF State qualifier; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Chuck Justice — San Ramon Valley HS (NC), 1982
Two-time CIF State qualifier; 3C2A State Champion (Chabot) and All-American; CSU Bakersfield; NCAA Division II All-American.

Bill Weiskopf — El Dorado HS (S), 1978
CIF State qualifier; UC Davis; NCAA Division II All-American.

Carlos Levexier — Balboa HS (SF), 1983
CIF State qualifier; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Dwight Weevie — Vista HS (SD), 1988
CIF State qualifier; UC Davis; NCAA Division II All-American.

Matt Ming — Elk Grove HS (SJ), 1990
CIF State qualifier; UC Davis; NCAA Division II All-American.

Carlos Sumulong — Northgate HS (NC), 1992
CIF State qualifier; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.

WRESTLERS WHO NEVER QUALIFIED FOR CIF STATE BUT BECAME COLLEGIATE ALL-AMERICANS

This category may be the most important for the broader California Top 100 project.

The following wrestlers did not qualify for the CIF State Championships but went on to earn collegiate All-American recognition.

Gene Choi — North HS (S), 2006
Did not qualify for CIF State; 3C2A State medalist; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Brett Southwick — Paradise HS (N), 1986
Did not qualify; NAIA All-American; Chico State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Casey Hankin — San Marcos HS (SD), 1986
Did not qualify; two-time 3C2A State medalist and All-American; Chico State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Eustacio Torres — Alhambra HS (NC), 1986
Did not qualify; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Mike Johnson — Santa Maria HS (S), 1975
Did not qualify; CSU Bakersfield; NCAA Division II All-American.

Bill Newton — North Salinas HS (CC), 1981
Did not qualify; CSU Bakersfield; NCAA Division II All-American.

Tony Ramirez — Arvin HS (CS), 1983
Did not qualify; two-time 3C2A State medalist; Chico State; two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

Craig Settles — Tokay HS (SJ), 1983
Did not qualify; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Raybon Johnson — Milpitas HS (CC), 1983
Did not qualify; NCAA Division II All-American.

Phil Scott — Fairfield HS (SJ), 1982
Did not qualify; 3C2A State medalist; Chico State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Tim Gleeson — El Camino HS (CC), 1981
Did not qualify; San Francisco State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Rod Prnjak — Watsonville HS (CC), 1981
Did not qualify; two-time 3C2A State medalist; Humboldt State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Dean Reichenberg — Elk Grove HS (SJ), 1975
Did not qualify; 3C2A State medalist; CSU Sacramento; NCAA Division II All-American.

Bob Laughlin — Alameda HS (NC), 1977
Did not qualify; Chico State; NCAA Division II All-American.

Antonio Lopez — Ukiah HS (NC), 1976
Did not qualify; CSU Sacramento; NCAA Division II All-American.

Dale Delaney — Fortuna HS (NC), 1980
Did not qualify; Humboldt State; NCAA Division II All-American.

These careers are not statistical anomalies to be ignored. They are evidence that the developmental pathway in wrestling is highly individual.

THE CENTRAL LESSON: A STATE CHAMPION IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY A BETTER WRESTLER THAN A STATE QUALIFIER

The most important conclusion from this body of research is not simply the number of NCAA Division II All-Americans California has produced.

It is what their backgrounds tell us.

A CIF State champion has achieved something extraordinary. Winning the State tournament is one of the highest honors available to a California high-school wrestler.

But a State championship is a high-school accomplishment.

An NCAA All-American honor is a national collegiate accomplishment.

The two should not be confused.

A wrestler who wins a CIF State championship has demonstrated superiority within a particular high-school field at a particular moment. A wrestler who becomes an NCAA All-American has demonstrated the ability to compete successfully against elite collegiate wrestlers from across the country.

The careers in this tier provide numerous examples.

Some California State champions became NCAA champions.

Some State finalists became NCAA champions.

Some State medalists became NCAA champions or multiple-time All-Americans.

Some State qualifiers became NCAA All-Americans.

And some wrestlers who never qualified for CIF State became NCAA Division II All-Americans or national champions.

That does not diminish the accomplishment of the State champion.

Instead, it demonstrates that wrestling development does not always occur in a straight line.

WHY COLLEGIATE ACHIEVEMENT MATTERS IN CALIFORNIA’S TOP 100

This is precisely why the California Top 100 project cannot be based solely on CIF State championships or State medal counts.

The purpose of the four-tier structure is to evaluate wrestlers according to the totality of their careers.

Relevant factors include:

• High-school State championships
• High-school State medals
• High-school national championships
• Fargo and other national-level achievements
• NCAA championships
• NCAA All-American honors
• NAIA All-American honors
• NJCAA All-American honors
• Number of collegiate All-American performances
• Collegiate championships
• Olympic and Senior World participation
• International medals
• Longevity
• Consistency
• Peak performance
• Level of competition
• Contributions to California wrestling history

No single category should automatically determine a wrestler’s overall standing.

A wrestler who won a CIF State championship and then had limited success in college should not automatically be considered superior to a wrestler who finished outside the top three at State but went on to become a two-time NCAA All-American.

Likewise, a wrestler who did not qualify for CIF State should not automatically be eliminated from consideration if his subsequent collegiate career demonstrated national-level excellence.

That is one of the clearest lessons provided by California’s Division II All-American history.

CALIFORNIA’S DIVISION II LEGACY

California’s NCAA Division II legacy is remarkable not simply because of the number of national champions and All-Americans produced, but because of the variety of pathways that led to national success.

The state produced:

• CIF State champions who became NCAA champions
• CIF State finalists who became NCAA champions
• State medalists who became multiple-time All-Americans
• State qualifiers who became NCAA All-Americans
• Wrestlers who did not qualify for CIF State but became collegiate All-Americans
• Community-college champions who progressed to NCAA national championships
• Wrestlers who succeeded at multiple collegiate divisions
• Multiple-time NCAA Division II All-Americans
• Four-time NCAA Division II All-Americans
• NCAA Division II national champions
• And, ultimately, Joey Davis—a four-time NCAA Division II champion who completed an undefeated career

The 59 wrestlers who either did not qualify for CIF State or qualified without placing and later became NCAA Division II All-Americans add another important dimension to that legacy.

They demonstrate that California’s wrestling strength was not confined to the athletes who stood on the podium at the State Championships.

Its depth extended well beyond the State tournament.

FINAL PERSPECTIVE

TIER 3 — NCAA DIVISION II COLLEGIATE ALL-AMERICANS represents much more than a collection of names and accomplishments.

It represents another chapter in the story of California wrestling.

The CIF State Championships provide an essential historical benchmark beginning with the inaugural tournament in 1973. But they represent only one point in a wrestler’s career.

For many athletes, the most significant portion of their wrestling journey came afterward.

The wrestlers documented in this tier demonstrate that excellence can emerge from many different paths.

Some were champions from the beginning.

Some were finalists.

Some were State medalists.

Some were State qualifiers.

Some never made it to the State tournament.

Yet all found a way to reach the national collegiate level.

The 59 wrestlers who either failed to qualify for State or qualified without placing are especially important because they provide measurable evidence that high-school State results and ultimate collegiate achievement do not always align.

Among those 59, 26 never qualified for CIF State, yet they ultimately became NCAA Division II All-Americans. Two—Steve Draper and Morris Johnson—went even further, becoming NCAA Division II national champions and two-time All-Americans.

That is why the evaluation of California’s greatest wrestlers must extend beyond a single tournament, a single season or a single championship.

A State championship is an extraordinary accomplishment.

An NCAA All-American honor is an extraordinary accomplishment.

An NCAA national championship is an extraordinary accomplishment.

But the complete career—the totality of the competitive journey—is what ultimately tells the story.

The purpose of this project is therefore not to diminish the importance of CIF State success.

It is to place that success in its proper historical context.

California wrestling greatness cannot be measured by one tournament.

It cannot be measured by one title.

It cannot be measured by one statistical category.

It must be measured by the totality of the wrestler’s competitive journey—from high school, through college, and, when applicable, onto the national and international stages.

That is the standard upon which California’s Top 100 Wrestlers project is being built.

Coming Next in Phase 2: TIER 3 — NCAA Division III Collegiate Level All-Americans.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The research behind the California Top 100 project is extensive. My master list of potential candidates and their accomplishments now exceeds 125 pages, reflecting the remarkable depth of talent California has produced over the past five decades. The next challenge is narrowing that extensive pool into four tiers that appropriately recognize the state’s all-time greats.

I may release the complete master list in the near future, giving readers access to the data and an opportunity to join the debate over who belongs among California’s all-time great wrestlers.

It is important to note that this series currently focuses exclusively on the men’s division, from the first CIF State Wrestling Championships in 1973 to the present. This is only the beginning. It is my intent to develop additional series recognizing the outstanding wrestlers from the pre-CIF era of the 1950s and 1960s, including both Northern and Southern California, as well as a separate project highlighting the history and accomplishments of California women’s wrestling.

Photos courtesy of John Sachs (Tech-Fall) and Notre Dame College.

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