ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - As the postseason for high school wrestling began over the past weekend, wrestlers cut weight to gain any advantage they could, whether a few ounces or a few pounds. They were willing to do anything to win as there can only be one state champion.   

And the path to the state tournament went through Franklin High School for the Delta League Championships. This was where team scores did not matter and it was truly one against the other to show who is the better wrestler.          

Wrestling started at 9 a.m. when each weight class for boys and girls started to compete. The top five boys wrestlers and the top four wrestlers in each bracket had qualified for the next tournament.

Elk Grove had not just qualified its wrestlers for the next tournament, but dominated the Delta League Championships. The Thundering Herd sent 11 of its boys to the championship matches for the Delta League, and six of the 11 were able to take home the Delta League Championships.       

Although the girls’ team did not have as many wrestlers in the championship matches, they were still able to qualify six wrestlers out of 12 weight classes with three wrestlers placing top two in the tournament.

 

Wrestlers surround the mats during the tournament at Franklin High School. 

Each wrestler from each school that competed had tried their hardest, knowing that if they had not won enough matches during the tournament, their season could be over. Every second of every match will be important for every wrestler going forward.                

With the Delta League Championships coming to a close, the wrestlers who placed in the top five for boys and top four for girls were able to qualify for Section Divisional Championships.                

There, wrestlers from the Delta League will compete against other wrestlers all from their same division. Then those who qualify for the next tournament will compete in the Section Championships, which is the last tournament before the State Tournament.                

And unlike the other sports that have state championship games based on their division, in wrestling there is only one state champion. It does not matter if someone goes to a school that is Division V or a school that is Division I.

In wrestling it is inevitable to face the toughest competition the farther you go into the season as the number of wrestlers dwindles after every round is finished.            

And soon there will be one wrestler that is crowned state champion in each class throughout the entirety of all the wrestlers of the state.

 

Elk Grove wrestlers surround and support their teammate.