Panthers make history at 3C2A Wrestling Championships - Sandoval and Salt win individual titles
The 2025 Men's Wrestling season concluded in historic fashion with two Panthers winning individual State Championships and three others placing in their weight classes. Josiah Sandoval (Elk Grove HS) defeated the #1 ranked 133 lb and #1 Pound for Pound Wrestler, Pablo Valdez from Victor Valley, via 1st period fall. Valdez entered the finals undefeated on the season with multiple victories over NCAA Division 1 wrestlers. Sandoval finished the tournament with 3 falls and a technical fall. He also earned Community College All-American status, finished the season with a 33-7, and became Sac City's 31st State Champion in program history. Vaea Salt (Will C. Wood '24) won a 11-7 decision over William Fulgentes from Moorpark College in the Championship Finals to become the 197 lb. 3C2A State Champion for Sacramento City College this past weekend. Salt entered the tournament as the #4 ranked wrestler in the state, after winning the Northern Regional Championship the previous week. On his way to the championship match, he defeated the #3 and #2 ranked wrestlers in the state before defeating the #1 ranked Fulgentes in the finals. Salt finishes the season as a Community College All-American and became Sac City's 32nd State Champion in program history. His season ended with a 30-5 record with 21 falls.
Alexander Lopez (Mt. Diablo HS) entered the tournament unranked but notched a few upset wins en route to placing 6th at 133 lbs. Lopez finishes the season with a 27-17 record. Munther Saleh (Rodriguez HS) finished in 7th place at 174 pounds. After losing a close consolation quarterfinal match to the state's #1 ranked wrestler (Brock Kitchen, Fresno City College), Saleh won by fall over Ali Hamzia from Santa Rosa Junior College in the 7th place match. Saleh, the team captain, finishes his sophomore season as a Scholar All-American with a 16-6 record. Billy Thornton (Sutter HS) placed 8th at 133 lbs after medically forfeiting his 7th place match. Battling injuries in the postseason, Thornton was able to secure a guaranteed State Placement by winning by fall in his consolation quarterfinals match against Elijah Flores of Cerritos College. Thornton finishes his Sac City career as a 2X State qualifier and had a sophomore season record of 25-9.
Brady Thornton (Sutter HS) finished the tournament with an 0-2 record at 149 lbs, after qualifying as the 5th place finisher at the North Region. Calin Capra (College Park HS) finished the tournament with a 1-2 record at 165 lbs, after qualifying as the 6th place finisher in the North Region. Noah Hargrave (Vanden HS) went 1-2 at 184 lbs, after qualifying for state as the the 8th place wrestler in the Norther Region. The Panthers finished the State Championships with a 5th Place team finish.
Picture Links:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tech-fall/albums/72177720330939887/
https://chrismoraphoto.smugmug.com/Sports/3C2A-Photos/2025-3C2A-Mens-Wrestling-State-Championship
