Pair of Palm Desert wrestlers earn individual state title, Aztecs place 4th as team
Palm Desert wrestling, a local powerhouse program, represented the valley in a major way over the weekend in Bakersfield at the CIF State Championships.
PD produced two individual champions and finished 4th overall as a team.
Sophomore stars Brock Mantanona (126) and Daniel Herrera (285) both won their respective weight division via pins.
Mantanona and Herrera became the first Aztecs to earn an individual state title since Anthony Mantanona in 2017.
❤️❤️❤️ my hero’s!!!! pic.twitter.com/dqeIHFM7zu
— ANT-KNEE (@mantanona98) February 27, 2022
Falling just short of the top spot on the podium was arguably PD's top grappler Beau Mantanona. There was clear controversy at the end of his championship match.
In short, the referee awarded Beau two points but then retracted those points 'after' the match was over, ultimately meaning Beau had lost the match and the state championship.
🚨 Major controversy at yesterday's California State Tournament. The ref appears to give Beau Mantanona the reversal & near-fall but then waves the call after the match is complete, giving Michael Gioffre the 138lb title. You make the call. pic.twitter.com/M3MNOoqtQi
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) February 27, 2022
Despite the devastating loss, Beau showed his true championship spirit and class through a post on his Instagram.
Beau's unfortunate loss received a lot of attention on social media over weekend, including from Daniel Cormier, one of the most accomplished wrestlers and mixed martial artists of all time.
Even @dc_mma knows Beau got robbed. @PalmWrestling @MantanonaBeau @LisaMantanona @mantanona98 @KESQ @baileyarredondo https://t.co/nbttFVTuP3
— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) February 28, 2022
As for other Palm Desert wrestlers, Sonny Kling finished 2nd and Erick McCown placed 5th, both in their respective weight classes.
Also for the Aztecs was Tegan Nguyen. She made history in becoming the first Palm Desert girls' wrestler ever to place at state, finishing 8th.
Cathedral City also had representation in Bakersfield. Isaiah Morales and Hector Haro placed 4th and 6th, respectively.
Congrats to Cathedral City's first ever CIF state placers. Isaiah finished 4th and Hector finished 6th. It's been an amazing career for these young men and it's been amazing to have coached them. Wrestling season is over!!! @shad_powers @DesertSunSports pic.twitter.com/nA3zgu6VIt
— Eric (@eridactyll) February 27, 2022
They both made history, becoming the first-ever Lions to place at the state tournament.
Congratulations to all of our local wrestlers on a successful season! Be sure to stay with KESQ News Channel 3 for continuing coverage of high school sports.
