Wrestlers for Escalon traveled to both Calaveras and Central Valley high schools on Friday and Saturday … and several of them will be moving on to the Masters Meet in Stockton.

Escalon’s varsity boys had seven wrestlers place out of the 12 they took to San Andreas for the Feb. 14-15 tournament hosted at Calaveras High School.

Among those seven placers, five qualified to move on to Masters.

“In fifth place at 165 pounds was Dylan Ball, he really came on the last couple of weeks and went 4-2,” said head coach Derek Scott.

The freshman will be an alternate to the Masters.

So will heavyweight Frank Rodriguez, who had one of his toughest days on the mats; he went 4-2 at heavyweight for a fifth-place medal.

Automatic qualifiers to Masters with top four finishes included Houston Sizuela, going 4-2 at 120 pounds for fourth place and, at 126 pounds, Conner McDowell taking third with a 6-1 record.

“He had a horrible match the first day,” Scott said of McDowell losing early. But then he came back strong.

“He won six in a row,” said the coach.

Battling illness this past week, Luca Cerasi had to settle for a second-place finish at 132 pounds, going 4-1; losing a heartbreaker in the finals by a 7-6 decision.

One of the champions for Escalon was Christian T. Cruz at 144 pounds, claiming the title in a “very hard match” and going 5-0 for the tourney, said Scott.

Also going 5-0 and earning an individual title was John Konradi at 190 pounds.

“He did a good job,” Scott said of Konradi handling his opponents.

The coach also said that, as a team, the Cougars were able to claim the championship, with 177 points. Second place Calaveras had 165, third place Hughson was at 150 points.

The Lady Cougars headed to Ceres for their tournament, taking on opponents at the event hosted by Central Valley High School.

“We had 12 girls wrestle and 11 earned medals,” said Scott. “Nine qualified (for Masters); they take the top eight.”

Closing out her high school career was Natalee Martinez, taking 10th place at 155 pounds.

Yahira Munoz, in the 100-pound division, was ninth and will be an alternate at the Masters Meet.

Qualifying for Masters were: Angeline Mills, 4-2, fourth place, 105 pounds; Isabella Alcala, 4-2, fourth place, 110 pounds.

In the 115-pound bracket, Scott said Miroslava Torres was thwarted by a bad placement but battled her way to a 5-1 record and took third place. Yesenia Marsellis took fourth at 125 pounds, going 5-2 over the two-day tournament.

At 130 pounds, Sophia Duran finished fourth with a 4-2 record and at 135 pounds, Dani Roybal was fourth, compiling a 6-5 mark.

In second place for Escalon at 170 pounds was Helena Arroyo, going 4-1 and just missing out on an individual championship. Aislinn Ingles had a tremendous showing, Scott noted, staying “under the radar” and wrestling to a third-place finish at 190 pounds with a 5-1 record.

At heavyweight, Melanie Carrillo was fifth, going 4-2.

The Escalon Lady Cougars took second place overall as a team at the divisionals, scoring 182 points. Champion Pitman had 207 points.

The Masters Meet is set for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21 and 22, at Stockton Arena with a trip to the State Meet on the line.