2025 California Beach Nationals champions crowned on various age-group levels

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – With almost 300 entries on Saturday, the California Beach Nationals continued to show impressive growth at all age levels, with seven rings of competition alongside the Pacific Ocean.

In addition to the Senior division, there was competition for boys and girls/men and women at the Veterans, U20, Junior, U17, 16U, 14U, 12U. 10U and 8U levels.

The U20 and U17 divisions are among the events that are included in the qualifying process for U.S. World and Pan American teams.

At the U20 level, men’s champions were Nathanial Higgins of Cyclones Wrestling & Fitness (70 kg), Anthony Manno of Newport Harbor High School (80 kg) and Christian Diaz (90 kg). Women’s champions were Adriana Palumbo of GPS Wrestling (70 kg) and Kasandra Villarreal of California (Over 70 kg).

Champions at the U17 division for men were Benjamin Higgins of Cyclones Wrestling & Fitness (60 kg), Julian Espinoza of California (70 kg) and Chris Anguiano of Surfside X Wrestling (80 kg). Women champions at the U17 level were Aubree Gutierrez of Surfside X Wrestling (55 kg) and Alanna Harwell of California (65 kg).

There were two wrestlers who won two different divisions. In addition to winning the U17 Beach Nationals at 80 kg, Chris Anguiano of Surfside X Wrestling was also the champion in the Boys 16U division in the 165.7-179.8 weight class. In addition to winning the U17 Beach Nationals at 55 kg, Aubree Gutierrez of Surfside X Wrestling was also the champion in the Girls 16U Nationals in the 119-122.6 weight class.

One of the nation’s all-time Beach Wrestling greats made a comeback in the Masters A division. Jeff Funicello, who won Senior World bronze medals in Beach Wrestling for Team USA in both 2007 and 2008, won a silver medal in the five-athlete round-robin at 95.3-99.6 kg, a weight class won by Edgar Alvarez of California. Funicello’s son Jacob Funicello also competed in the U17 Beach Nationals at 80 kg, placing third in Pool A.

CALIFORNIA BEACH NATIONALS

At Huntington Beach, Calif., August 16

U20 Men

70 kg

1st - Nathanial Higgins (Cyclones Wrestling & Fitness)

2nd - Mateo Ochoa (California)

3rd - Richard Ma (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC))

4th - Jack Gregson

Mateo Ochoa, CALI over Richard Ma, TMWC (VSU1 3-2)

Nathanial Higgins, CWF over Jack Gregson (VSU 3-0)

Nathanial Higgins, CWF over Richard Ma, TMWC (VSU 3-0)

Mateo Ochoa, CALI over Jack Gregson (VFA 5-0)

Richard Ma, TMWC over Jack Gregson (VFA 5-0)

Nathanial Higgins, CWF over Mateo Ochoa, CALI (VSU1 3-1)

80 kg

1st - Anthony Manno (Newport Harbor High School Wrestling)

2nd - Christopher Castellanos-Juarez (Anaheim High School Wrestling)

3rd - Nathan Martinez (Beat The Streets - Los Angeles)

Anthony Manno, NHHS over Christopher Castellanos-Juarez, AHSW (VSU 3-0)

Christopher Castellanos-Juarez, AHSW over Nathan Martinez, BTSL (VSU1 (3-1)

Anthony Manno, NHHS over Nathan Martinez, BTSL (VSU1 3-1)

90 kg

1st - Christian Diaz

2nd - Rodney Sabin (Uintah Wrestling)

3rd - Asa Goff (Newport Harbor High School Wrestling)

4th - Giancarlo Tolentino (California)

5th - Caiden Garcia (La Canada High School Wrestling)

Christian Diaz over Asa Goff, NHHS (VSU1 3-1)

Giancarlo Tolentino, CALI over Caiden Garcia, LCHS (VSU 3-0)

Rodney Sabin, UIWR over Caiden Garcia, LCHS (VSU1 3-2)

Christian Diaz over Giancarlo Tolentino, CALI (VSU 3-0)

Rodney Sabin, UIWR over Giancarlo Tolentino, CALI (VFA1 (5-2)

Asa Goff, NHHS over Caiden Garcia, LCHS (VFA1 3-1)

Rodney Sabin, UIWR over Asa Goff, NHHS (VSU1 3-2)

Christian Diaz over Caiden Garcia, LCHS (VFA 3-0)

Christian Diaz over Rodney Sabin, UIWR (VSU1 3-2)

Asa Goff, NHHS over Giancarlo Tolentino, CALI (Win by Rule)

U20 Women

70 kg

1st - Adriana Palumbo (GPS Wrestling)

2nd - Janie Houser (California)

3rd - Isabella SantaMaria (Torotech Wrestling)

4th - Kendall Chapman (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)))

Isabella SantaMaria, TOWR over Kendall Chapman, TMWC (VSU 3-1)

Adriana Palumbo, GPWR over Janie Houser, CALI (Win by Rule)

Adriana Palumbo, GPWR over Isabella SantaMaria, TOWR (VFA1 4-1)

Janie Houser, CALI over Kendall Chapman, TMWC (VFA 3-0)

Janie Houser, CALI over Isabella SantaMaria, TOWR (Win by Rule)

Adriana Palumbo, GPWR over Kendall Chapman, TMWC (VSU 3-0)

+70 kg

1st - Kasandra Villarreal (California)

2nd - Lorelei Hartman (California)

3rd - Samantha Mendoza (Temescal Canyon High School Wrestling)

4th - Catalina Medina (Temescal Canyon High School Wrestling)

Lorelei Hartman, CALI over Samantha Mendoza, TCHS (VSU1 3-0)

Kasandra Villarreal, CALI over Catalina Medina, TCHS (VFA 3-0)

Catalina Medina, TCHS over Rowan Titus, MARY (VSU1 3-1)

Kasandra Villarreal, CALI over Lorelei Hartman, CALI (VFA1 3-2)

Kasandra Villarreal, CALI over Rowan Titus, MARY (VSU 3-0)

Samantha Mendoza, TCHS over Catalina Medina, TCHS (VFA1 4-0)

Samantha Mendoza, TCHS over Rowan Titus, MARY (Win by Rule)

Lorelei Hartman, CALI over Catalina Medina, TCHS (VSU 3-0)

Lorelei Hartman, CALI over Rowan Titus, MARY (VSU 3-0)

Samantha Mendoza, TCHS over Kasandra Villarreal, CALI (Win by Rule)

U17 Men

60 kg

1st - Benjamin Higgins (Cyclones Wrestling & Fitness)

2nd - Josiah Gonzalez (California)

3rd - Shawn Brunson (Tiger Style WC)

4th - Ethan Perez (Temescal Canyon High School Wrestling)

5th - Adrian Rollins (Temescal Canyon High School Wrestling)

Josiah Gonzalez, CALI over Ethan Perez, TCHS (VSU1 (3-0))

Shawn Brunson, TSW over Adrian Rollins, TCHS (VSU1 (3-1))

Benjamin Higgins, CWF over Shawn Brunson, TSW (VFA1 (3-1))

Josiah Gonzalez, CALI over Adrian Rollins, TCHS (Win by Rule)

Benjamin Higgins, CWF over Adrian Rollins, TCHS (Win by Rule)

Shawn Brunson, TSW over Ethan Perez, TCHS (Win by Rule)

Josiah Gonzalez, CALI over Shawn Brunson, TSW (Win by Rule)

Benjamin Higgins, CWF over Ethan Perez, TCHS (Win by Rule)

Benjamin Higgins, CWF over Josiah Gonzalez, CALI (VSU1 (3-1))

Ethan Perez, TCHS over Adrian Rollins, TCHS (Win by Rule)

70 kg

1st - Julian Espinoza (California)

2nd - Deegan Hernandez (Martin Luther King High School Wrestling)

3rd - Knox Espinoza (Surfside X Wrestling)

4th - Gregory Logan Tan (Martin Luther King High School Wrestling)

1st Place Match - Julian Espinoza, CALI over Deegan Hernandez, MLKH (VSU 3-0)

3rd Place Match - Knox Espinoza, SXW over Gregory Logan Tan, MLKH (VSU1 3-2)

Semis - Deegan Hernandez, MLKH over Gregory Logan Tan, MLKH (VSU1 3-1)

Semis - Julian Espinoza, CALI over Knox Espinoza, SXW (VSU 3-0)

Pool A

1st - Deegan Hernandez (Martin Luther King High School Wrestling)

2nd - Knox Espinoza (Surfside X Wrestling)

3rd - Shizhang Jin (Valencia High School Wrestling)

4th - Lucas Pearce (Temescal Canyon High School Wrestling)

5th - Charlie Contreras (California)

Pool B

1st - Julian Espinoza (California)

2nd - Gregory Logan Tan (Martin Luther King High School Wrestling)

3rd - Kixten Barney (Uintah Wrestling)

4th - Damien Orozco (Surfside X Wrestling)

5th - Brandon Bautista (California)

80 kg

1st - Chris Anguiano (Surfside X Wrestling)

2nd - Jayden Dela Rosa (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC))

3rd - Benjamin De La Torre (South Hills High School Wrestling)

4th - Andres Ayala (California)

1st Place Match - Chris Anguiano, SXW over Jayden Dela Rosa, TMWC (Win by Rule)

3rd Place Match - Benjamin De La Torre, SHHS over Andres Ayala, CALI (VFO)

Semis - Jayden Dela Rosa, TMWC over Benjamin De La Torre, SHHS (VSU 3-0)

Semis - Chris Anguiano, SXW over Andres Ayala, CALI (VFO)

Pool A

1st - Jayden Dela Rosa (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC))

2nd - Andres Ayala (California)

3rd - Jacob Funicello (Arizona)

4th - Jael Prieto (No Mercy Wrestling Club)

Pool B

1st - Chris Anguiano (Surfside X Wrestling)

2nd - Benjamin De La Torre (South Hills High School Wrestling)

3rd - Derek Flores (Palo Verde High School Wrestling)

4th - Reilly MacMillan (La Canada High School Wrestling)

U17 Women

55 kg

1st - Aubree Gutierrez (Surfside X Wrestling)

2nd - Rebecca Dezan (Upland High School Wrestling)

3rd - Lillyana Torres-Wynne (Socal Grappling Club)

Aubree Gutierrez, SXW over Rebecca Dezan, UHSW (VSU1 3-2)

Rebecca Dezan, UHSW over Lillyana Torres-Wynne, SGC (VSU1 3-2)

Aubree Gutierrez, SXW over Lillyana Torres-Wynne, SGC (Win by Rule)

65 kg

1st - Alanna Harwell (California)

2nd - Isabella SantaMaria (Torotech Wrestling)

3rd - Emily Martinez (Temescal Canyon High School Wrestling)

4th - Marie Basset (La Canada High School Wrestling)

Alanna Harwell, CALI over Marie Basset, LCHS (VFA 4-0)

Isabella SantaMaria, TOWR over Emily Martinez, TCHS (VSU1 (3-1)

Emily Martinez, TCHS over Marie Basset, LCHS (VFA1 4-1)

Alanna Harwell, CALI over Isabella SantaMaria, TOWR (Win by Rule)

Isabella SantaMaria, TOWR over Marie Basset, LCHS (VFA 4-0)

Alanna Harwell, CALI over Emily Martinez, TCHS (Win by Rule)

6U Boys

40.8-48.1

1st - Paul Rafanan III (California)

2nd - Mavrick Monjaraz (California)

3rd - Ezlynn Correa (California)

4th - Franklin Pilarski (California)

8U Boys

53-59.2

1st - Sariah Fisher (Riverhawk Wrestling Academy)

2nd – Kristian Medina (California)

3rd - Qudratullah Nemati

72.8-82.2

1st - Maggie Larson (DeKalb Wrestling Club)

2nd - James Goff (California)

3rd - Derek Cruz (Legacy Wrestling Center)

8U Girls

52.8-52.9

1st - TrEstelle DeJesus (Kansas)

2nd - Maven Rankin (California)

10U Girls

82.9-87

1st - Herra Fisher (Riverhawk Wrestling Academy)

2nd - Venice Quast (California)

3rd - Macie Rankin (Orange County RTC)

10U Boys

51.3-52.8

1st - Arrow Ballon (Savage House Wrestling Club)

2nd - Nicholas Gutierrez (Swarm Wrestling Club)

56.6-61.8

1st - Andre Delgado (California)

2nd - Daniel Gutierrez (Swarm Wrestling Club)

64.7-72.5

1st - Jean Pierre De Jesus (Team of Hard Knox)

2nd - Mason Rebolo (Savage House Wrestling Club)

3rd - Ethan Park (Savage House Wrestling Club)

79.9-86.5

1st - Herra Fisher (Riverhawk Wrestling Academy)

2nd - Oliver Garcia (California)

3rd - Ronin De Windt (Project 8 Wrestling)

12U Boys

70-76.4

1st - Matthew Zubia (California)

2nd - Dominic Lopez (Devil's Gate Wrestling Club)

3rd - Levi Rankin (Orange County RTC)

4th - Arya Rogue Gutierrez (Surfside X Wrestling)

78.6-82.2

1st - Francisco Bueno (Aniciete Training Club)

2nd - Alexander Sheffler (Team Real Life Wrestling)

3rd - Sahem Hernandez-Becerra (California)

14U Boys

93.4-102.2

1st - Luke Higgins (Cyclones Wrestling & Fitness)

2nd - Kyler Parry (Mt Spokane Wrestling Club)

3rd - Grant Margolis (Orange County RTC)

4th - Lawson Cochran (Uintah Wrestling)

5th - Dominyk Salcido (Swarm Wrestling Club)

115.4-117.9

1st - Anthony Rodriguez, Jr. (Church Boyz Wrestling Club)

2nd - Cole Taite

3rd - Rylee Salas (California)

4th - Buck Chafey (California)

128-139.6

1st - Warrior Bundra (Rim Fighting Scots Youth Wrestling)

2nd - Typhoon Koo (California)

148.6-161.2

1st - Thomas Zubia (California)

2nd - Albert Bagdasarian (World Team Training Center)

3rd - Sylvester (SJ) Jones IV (Revival School of Wrestling)

14U Girls

98.5-110.3

1st - Emiri Sarabia

2nd - Jennifer Cornejo (Rough House Wrestling)

16U Boys

91.8-107.2

1st - Max Fate (California)

2nd - Fernando Villa (California)

111.4-121.1

1st - Cash Blackwell (Swarm Wrestling Club)

2nd - Tae Yang Koo (La Canada High School Wrestling)

3rd - Paxton Schulte (California)

118.6-126.4

1st - Dylan Duran (Marina High School Wrestling)

2nd - Joseph Gonzalez (Youngblood Wrestling Club)

3rd - Christian Napoles (California)

4th - Cole Hoeppner (California)

130.8-134.4

1st - Knox Espinoza (Surfside X Wrestling)

2nd - Benjamin Higgins (Cyclones Wrestling & Fitness)

3rd - Draco Martinez (Monster Garage Wrestling)

4th - Brooks Gary (Devil's Gate Wrestling Club)

139.6-150.6

1st - Evan Mayek (La Canada High School Wrestling)

2nd - Kixten Barney (Uintah Wrestling)

3rd - Blake Schmidt (Panther Wrestling Club)

4th - Isaac Ortega (California)

144.2-154.9

1st - Lucas Mojica (Rosemead Panther Wrestling)

2nd - Arthur Martinez (Newport Harbor High School Wrestling)

3rd - Ethan Almeida (California)

4th - Dylan Simangan (California)

5th - Benjamin Turley (California)

158.2-164

1st - Milad Sharif (Surfside X Wrestling)

2nd - Bruno M. Ahern (La Canada High School Wrestling)

3rd - Elliott Griffith (Temescal Canyon High School Wrestling)

4th - Mark Rebolloso (No Mercy Wrestling Club)

5th - Charlie Kassabian (California)

169.9-173.5

1st - Leon Murphy (California)

2nd - Lewis Goff (Newport Harbor High School Wrestling)

3rd - Alfred contreras (Rancho Cucamonga High School Wrestling)

4th - Tinsley Tam (Irvine High School Wrestling)

5th - Damien Roces (California)

165.7-179.8

1st - Chris Anguiano (Surfside X Wrestling)

2nd - Adrian Harris (Youngblood Wrestling Club)

3rd - Hunter Artim (California)

4th - Jacob P. Fraund (La Canada High School Wrestling)

5th - Gavin Helm (Arlington High School Wrestling)

180.7-198.4

1st - Rodney Sabin (Uintah Wrestling)

2nd - Christopher Wood (Gatos Wrestling Club)

3rd - Osvaldo Flores (Madera Grapplers Wrestling Club)

4th - Carl Aragones (La Canada High School Wrestling)

200.6-218.8

1st - Jose Aguilar (Valencia High School Wrestling)

2nd - George Correa (California)

3rd - Jeesie Manching (La Canada High School Wrestling)

16U Girls

96.4-110.2

1st - Emiri Sarabia

2nd - Emma Seiler (California)

3rd - Billi Readinger (No Mercy Wrestling Club)

4th - Hannah P. Stieglitz (La Canada High School Wrestling)

114.1-117.5

1st - Jessica J. Strassburg (La Canada High School Wrestling)

2nd - Acailles Jenks (Uintah Girls Wrestling)

3rd - Aleah Gutierrez (Temescal Canyon High School Wrestling)

119-122.6

1st - Aubree Gutierrez (Surfside X Wrestling)

2nd - Celeste Meyer (No Mercy Wrestling Club)

3rd - Sydney Tarlow (California)

4th - Darla Martinez (California)

122.5-128.3

1st - Harmony Marquez (Chaffey High School Wrestling)

2nd - Juliana Montoto (La Canada High School Wrestling)

3rd - Jocelyn Kim (California)

129-131.6

1st - Savannah Belmonte (Revival School of Wrestling)

2nd - Emma Kanazawa-wood (California)

3rd - Leticia Muro (California)

153.8-164

1st - Lillian Vakatawa (Gatos Wrestling Club)

2nd - Dana Guevara Flores (Gatos Wrestling Club)

3rd - Keegan Dillon (California)

4th - Evelyn Rivera (California)

Junior Boys

112.1-122.5

1st - Lorenzo Pastrana (Valencia High School Wrestling)

2nd - Jude Kliegl (La Canada High School Wrestling)

3rd - Santino Yeley (Nevada)

4th - Cole Hoeppner (California)

123.6-131.1

1st - Lorenzo Jauregui (California)

2nd - Christopher Lee (La Canada High School Wrestling)

3rd - Zeus Martinez ()

4th - Jason Aaron (Panthers Wrestling)

139-151

1st - Nathanial Higgins (Cyclones Wrestling & Fitness)

2nd - Landon Bernal (Imperial Wrestling)

3rd - Michael Marshall (Revival School of Wrestling)

4th - Thatcher Chafey (La Canada High School Wrestling)

145.8-151

1st - Alec Avedissian (California)

2nd - Diego Valdez (No Mercy Wrestling Club)

3rd - Nathan Aldecoa (Gatos Wrestling Club)

151.8-161.2

1st - Cade Johnston (Revival School of Wrestling)

2nd - Adrian Rodriguez (California)

3rd - Logan Mojica (Rosemead Panther Wrestling)

4th - Billy Aliven (California)

170.1-180.1

1st - Truman Gilbertson (Mustang Wrestling Club)

2nd - Cross Rodriguez (Church Boyz Wrestling Club)

3rd - Diego McDonald (Devil's Gate Wrestling Club)

4th - Alex Kankiewicz (La Canada High School Wrestling)

190

1st - Logan Ulmer (California)

2nd - Michael Flores ()

3rd - Levi Goldsworthy (La Canada High School Wrestling)

192.5-202.3

1st - Dario Ruiz (South Hills High School Wrestling)

2nd - Matias Juniel (La Canada High School Wrestling)

3rd - Michael Fleurant (California)

4th - Levi Robles (California)

230.8-273

1st - Daren Calix (California)

2nd - Philip Markgraf (La Canada High School Wrestling)

Junior Girls

115.2-116.2

1st - Lillyana Torres-Wynne (Socal Grappling Club)

2nd - Austin Desai (California)

137-146.4

1st - Ava Willford (Arizona Girls Wrestling)

2nd - Carly Corbin (Gatos Wrestling Club)

3rd - Elizabeth Kankiewicz (La Canada High School Wrestling)

137.7-148.5

1st - Isabella SantaMaria (Torotech Wrestling)

2nd - Alanna Harwell (California)

3rd - Karlie Schneider (Gatos Wrestling Club)

185.6-194.6

1st - Anna Kleineahlbrandt (La Canada High School Wrestling)

2nd - Sequoia Frohnhoefer (California)

Masters A

61.9-69.6 kg

1st - Carlos Monteon Jr (Arizona)

2nd - Rafael vargas (California)

3rd - Gustavo Gonzalez (Chaffey High School Wrestling)

4th - Mario Vazquez (Legacy Wrestling Center)

74.8-76.1 kg

1st - Steven Mendoza (California)

2nd - Matthew Chan (Orange County Grappling)

3rd - Bryan Kaleta (California)

81.2-85.3 kg

1st - Anthony Vargas (California)

2nd - Benjamin Rogers (California)

95.3-99.6 kg

1st - Edgar Alvarez (California)

2nd - Jeff Funicello (Arizona)

3rd - Robert Dominguez (California Grapplers)

4th - Dominic Rabay (California)

5th - Isaiah Garrett (Gatos Wrestling Club)

Masters B

81-87.8

1st - Michael Lopez (Elite Panthers Wrestling Club)

2nd - Daniel Polchinski (California)

3rd - Nick Bundra (Rim Fighting Scots Youth Wrestling)

4th - James Smith (California)

107-126.6

1st - Michael Wood (California)

2nd - Ali Arsalan Khanpour (Texas)

3rd - Casey Cook (California)

77.5-77.9

1st - Joe Fitzsimons (Orange County Grappling)

2nd - Mico Kubeska (California)