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Drew Meulman of St. Francis will enter the 2009-2010 season as the favorite at 215 lbs.

Over the course of the past two seasons, the Central Coast Section 215 lbs. weight class could easily be perceived as the Drew Meulman and the rest division, and his performances during that span in the CCS Tournament certainly justify that recognition. He is not just 10-0 since his sophomore year, but, rather, more like 10-0, and not one individual that was very close. Of those ten wins, eight came by way of pin, while the other two were a 13-0 major decision and a 5-1 decision (which was his CCS finals match as a sophomore). Of his eight pins, six occured in the first round. Essentially, he likes to pin, and he likes to pin quickly.

Those figures, meanwhile, aren’t meant to discredit the local competition in the weight class. Hunter Baird of Palma, who Meulman wrestled in the section finals, went 3-2 in the California State Tournament. George Dunlap, the 4^th place section finisher out of Soquel, and Rustin Mayorga, the 3^rd place finisher from South San Francisco, who Meulman hadn’t wrestled, each went 2-2 and 1-2, respectively, at the State Tournament. There was a high level of competition in the weight class, but,  to his credit, Meulman is simply a few rungs higher in terms of his skill and ability, and fortunately for the CCS, the reach of his dominance is not only limited to his opponents within the section.

During the 2008-2009 season, Meulman, of St. Francis, showcased his ability and skill to the entire state in a three week tournament schedule, first travelling to Fresno to compete in the Doc Buchanan Invitational,then to Fountain Valley in Southern California for the Five Counties Invitational, and finally to Gilroy for MidCals. Week after week, Meulman impressed spectators and fans and finished 1^st in each of these tournaments, which are regarded as the most difficult in the state, with Five Counties considered as one of the nation’s toughest. He squared off against the legitimate title contender (and 2009 CIF 3^rd place finisher) Josh Wood of Modoc, at the Mid Cals final and against the state’s returning 2009 7^th place finisher Brian Schoene of Bakersfield twice for the finals at Five Counties and at the Doc Buchanan Invitational. He also finished first at the Newark Rotary Duals as a heavyweight, and at the Cupertino Memorial. His lone 2^nd place finish was at the beginning of the season at the Lou Bronzan Tournament and his 11-5 loss came at the hands of his cross bay rival, Nick Pica of Concord.

Meulman’s post season commenced with his second consecutive West Catholic Athletic League championship. Ranked first at CCS, Meulman pinned his way to the championship title, dispatching Angel Reyes of Salinas in 1:14, Donovan Jackson of Monterey in 1:50, Martin Garcia of San Benito in 0:52, Juniel Morales of Oak Grove in 2:56, and Hunter Baird of Palma in 3:29, and then headed to Bakersfield to pursue his quest for a state championship. Through the first two rounds, Meulman picked up right where he left off, and pinned Jesus Vargas of La Puente ( 7^th place finisher in Southern Section) in 1:16, and Kalafitoni Pole of James Logan (2^nd place finisher in North Coast Section) in 1:00. In the quarterfinals, Meulman faced a familiar opponent in Brian Schoene, of Bakersfield, in a thrilling match that went into over time. Although he had faced Schoene twice before, and defeated him 6-1 and 6-0, Schoene rose to the occasion and forced the scoreless match into over time. However, after attempting a shot, Meulman was able to capitalize to score and end the match by a 2-0 decision. Schoene eventually went on to place 7^th in California.

By advancing into the semifinals, Meulman set up rematch against Josh Wood of Modoc (1^st place finisher in Northern Section) who he just escaped in a 5-4 decision at the Mid Cal tournament. Wood defeated Meulman 6-2 at the 2008 State Tournament, and Meulman decided to not let history repeat itself. In another difficult match up, Meulman was able to come away with a 4-2 decision, and set up another rematch against the very dominant and aggressive Nick Pica of Concord (1^st place finisher in North Coast Section) for the 2009 215 lbs. CIF Title. Ultimately, Meulman was unable to overcome Pica’s aggressive and overbearing style that consisted of single leg attacks and snap downs, and he lost in 10-4 decision.

This coming season, California wrestling aficionados can anticipate Meulman’s season to culminate in another CIF Finals match. However, to get there he’ll have to run the gauntlet against some tough returning state placers including William Knowles of Calvary Chapel, Austin Morehead of Sutter, and Brian Schoene of Bakersfield. Just because the incumbent champion Pica will be graduating doesn’t mean the title will be easy to earn.

Juniel Morales (top) will be one of dozens that will try and stop Meulman next season.

Looking to join the  CCS Champion and State Finalist at the state tournament next year will be returning Central Coast Section placers Juniel Morales (Sr.) of Oak Grove and Joey Lopez (Sr.) of Junipero Serra. Morales advanced all the way to the semifinals at the 2009 CCS Tournament until his encounter with Meulman resulted in a fall in 2:56. The loss sent him into the consolation bracket, where he was promptly greeted by George Dunlap of Soquel, the 4^th place finisher in the section, who handed him a loss by a 7-1 decision. Subsequently, Morales moved into the match for 5^th/6^th and defeated Joey Lopez of Serra by a pin in 3:45.

Joey Lopez took the longer and much more unorthodox method of placing. Lopez, who was not even ranked in the top 10, advanced to the round of 16 via a Bye, and wrestled against Dunlap and lost by a pin in 1:23. While in the wrestlebacks, Lopez won four straight against Alfredo Mireles of Gilroy (fall 2:08), AJ Castillo of Palo Alto (fall 1:44), Martin Garcia of San Benito (7-4 decision), and Hector Cristobal of Freemont (6-2) before falling to South San Francisco’s Rustin Mayorga (11-3). He ended the tournament with a loss to Morales to finish in 6^th place. With this accomplishment in hand, Lopez should be able to wrestle with more confidence, and at the same time he’ll need to be aware that he will no longer be able to fly under many coaches’ radar.

To watch Drew Meulman’s California State Finals match against Nick Pica of Concord, click here.

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Photo courtesey of Tech-Fall.