Day one is in the books at Fountain Valley High School, and the field has been trimmed down to eight guys on the championship side at each weight. A lot of the major news on day one was from Selma, but it had nothing to do with results on the mat. #1 Richard Figuero isn’t in the field at 113lbs after winning Doc B a week ago. #10 Tristan Lujan picked up a technical fall and fall as the top see at 120lbs before medically forfeiting out of the tournament. It’s disappointing to not see those two compete, but there are plenty of reasons to watch as some of the best in California battle in Fountain Valley.

Most Anticipated Possible Bouts Of Day 2:

170lbs: #12 Max Wilner, Fountain Valley vs *#4Cael Valencia, St. John Bosco

This is the anticipated final at 170lbs. Valencia is just a week removed from knocking off #2 Paddy Gallagher for the 160lb title at the Doc Buchanan Invitational. For his effort in Clovis Valencia was recognized as the most outstanding upperweight wrestler.

Wilner had a different experience last weekend as he was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to illness. He’s back on track in his home gym as he’s picked up two falls and a major decision en route to the quarterfinals. Wilner is looking to claim back-to-back 5 Counties titles.

152lbs: #1 Sonny Santiago, St. John Bosco vs Tyler Badgett, Rancho Bernardo

This is a possible semifinal on the bottom side of the 152lb bracket. Santiago won the state title last year with a 3-2 tiebreaker victory over Badgett. Santiago will be falling from the top spot in the rankings as he dropped his semifinal bout to Matt Singleton at Doc B. Santiago was able to rebound from his semifinal loss to place third. 

The third place bout for Santiago was a victory over Badgett. Badgett dropped his semifinal at Doc B to Chase Saldate. Saldate sits on the top side of the bracket here as the #1 seed.

152lbs: #2 Chase Saldate, Gilroy vs Santiago or Badgett

Saldate will take over the top ranking Wednesday with a title here at 5 Counties. Any other result will create a ranker’s delight, as Andrew Spey likes to call it. Saldate defeated Badgett and the previously mentioned Singleton en route to the Doc B title a week ago.

Saldate is up at 152lbs after a runner-up finish in California at 138lbs. A year ago Saldate took home a belt from 5 Counties at that weight class. We could see the #1 vs #2 showdown, just a week late. 

138lbs: Henry Porter, Gilroy vs Isaac Salas, St. John Bosco

This bout happened a week ago with Salas earning a 7-6 victory in the quarterfinals at Doc B, and it could be the final at 138lbs here. Porter spent the last minute of the bout looking for the go-ahead takedown that he never scored. Porter was coming hard and forced a stall warning, but couldn’t press enough to get the tying point. Will Porter get his revenge, or will Salas take another bout from the state placewinner from Gilroy?

Championship quarterfinals will get underway at 9am pst. Semifinals are scheduled for noon, and the championship finals will be wrestled at 5:30pm pst on two mats.