For over a decade, Corcoran wrestling programs have been producing athletes that are now beginning to take their talent to the next level, college athletics. Corcoran wrestling prepares their young wrestlers at all levels including youth, middle school, high school and college. Most of the athletes have been part of the program through all grade levels and it is showing with partial and full scholarship offers from schools around the country.
Enrique Carranza is a 2013 graduate from Corcoran High School. Carranza is a recipient of the Col. J.G. Boswell Scholarship and is currently attending UCLA with a Pre-Psychology major and minor in Education. Enrique is also part of the PAC-8 conference UCLA Wrestling Club. Carranza plans on pursuing a career in counseling. “Wrestling definitely helped prepare me for college. I learned that with hard word and right mindset, you can accomplish your goals. With wrestling, I forget about the day stress that class brings. When you don’t know a move well, you practice it and the same goes for any course material in college. The group of guys I practice with here in college, we train together, learn together, and sometimes suffer together. It is a brotherhood and I love it,” said Carranza.
Adrian Panduro, a 2012 graduate was a 2011 CIF State placer for Corcoran High School. His performance at state allowed him to receive offers from many Division 2 schools in the midwest. Panduro took an offer from Cal State Bakersfield as a walk on. Panduro is currently studying to get his four-year degree and make the lineup with the Roadrunner Wrestling team.
Adrian Gomez is a 2011 graduate from Corcoran High School. During his tenure at CHS, Adrian qualified for the CIF Wrestling State Champions for three years in a row, which had never been done by a Corcoran wrestler. Although he never placed there, his performance allowed him to join the Fresno City wrestling team. In 2013-2014 Adrian became a starter and placed fourth at the Community College State Championships. In the 2014-2015 season, Adrian placed at every major event for Fresno City. He was a finalist at all tournaments as well as in the 2015 State Championships where he was runner-up losing to the eventual champion in overtime. Days after placing at CCC State Championships, Gomez received a call from Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon, Georgia. He is currently on the team but competing independently and will become a full member of the squad beginning in the 2015-2016 school year. Gomez plans to finish his schooling there and major in business. He would like to return to California and pursue a career as a Fireman and coach.
Former Corcoran resident and wrestler Isaiah Martinez is excelling at the next level. Martinez spent five years as part of the John Muir wrestling program and seven years as part of Corcoran Freestyle where he became a multiple time state placer and champion as well as a national placer for both teams. He moved to Lemoore in high school and became a four-time CIF state placer and three-time state champion. Isaiah accepted a scholarship offer from the University of Illinois. Martinez red shirted last season and is currently in his first year. This past weekend in St. Louis Missouri at the NCAA National Championships, Martinez, who was ranked number one, won the championship at 157 pounds for the University of Illinois. In attendance was Alfred Garcia, Isaiah’s father also from Corcoran.
Isaiah started the night strong winning by Technical Fall (15+ point margin) over Russell Parsons of Army. His second match he won by pin over Spartak Chino of Ohio State. In the Quarterfinals, Martinez met up with Nick Brascetta of Vermont where he won by major (8+ points) with a score of 10-2. In the Semifinals, Isaiah would meet up with the number four ranked wrestler in the country James Green of Nebraska. Martinez won with a score of 3-2. In the Finals, Martinez would square off against the number two ranked Brian Realbuto of Cornell. Martinez would win the NCAA National Championship by a score of 10-2, another Major Decision. With the win, Martinez became the first freshman in 16 years to go a perfect 34-0 and win a Division 1 Championship (other was Cael Sanderson).
Isaiah is the son of Yvonne Martinez and Alfred Garcia of Corcoran.
Along with producing great wrestlers, Corcoran is hosting great events to help prepare its athletes, said Coach Adrian Hernandez. Corcoran is currently host to the California Republic State Duals, the number one dual event in California that brings wrestlers from Pasadena, Coachella Valley, Gilroy, Sacramento, and various cities in Central California.
Corcoran also hosts the number one youth wrestling event in California, the California Republic Invitational. Over 800 of the best wrestlers from all over California (close to 100 clubs) and kids from North and South Nevada and Texas participate in the event.
Corcoran also hosts the Corcoran Duals and John Muir Invitational (22 years) that are also considered some of the top events in the state.
