Paso Robles junior Cesar Delgado claimed the championship in the 160-pound weight division at the PAC 7 finals held at Righetti High School in Santa Maria on Feb. 6. In all, the Bearcats had four wrestlers earn championships.

When Justin McAfee stepped onto the mat, he had no idea he would be the first of four Bearcat wrestlers to medal that day.

In all, the Paso Robles High School varsity wrestling team had wrestlers claim the championship in four weight division at the 2010 PAC 7 wrestling finals held at Righetti High School in Santa Maria on Feb. 6.

McAfee was the first when he claimed the heavyweight championship at the event. Next came junior Cesar Delgado (160), followed by freshman Kevan Garcia (130) and freshman Colton Madrigal (152).

Garcia was the first Bearcat freshman to win a league title since 2002 and was the first time the Bearcats have had two freshman wrestlers win championships at finals, according to Paso Robles coach Chris Monteiro. The Bearcats will send 10 wrestlers CIF-Southern Section Individual competition, which begins Feb. 19.

For McAfee, the championship was the payoff for four years of hard work. McAfee described himself as an overweight and unhealthy kid, who came into his freshman year at PRHS weighing 350 pounds.

"My freshman year, I never thought I'd be here," he said. "But this year, I told myself I was going to be here and I wasn't going to let anyone stand in my way."

In his championship match at the finals, McAfee said he'd wrestled Levi Kenyon during a dual meet on Feb. 2 in Atascadero, and knew what he had to do in order to beat him again.

"I've been training a lot for it, certain moves I know he likes to hit, and I learned how to counter him, and that was what I practiced all week, " he said. McAfee went 2-0 at the finals...



For the complete article see the 02-09-2010 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 02-09-2010 paper.

Share on Facebook