Gillem wins first-ever state gold for Helix
- Updated: March 5, 2016
Special to EastCountySports.com
BAKERSFIELD – The Helix Highlanders don’t lack for tradition on the mat, even claiming a San Diego section team title in 1998.
However, the Scotties have never scored a individual title on the state level.
Gillem competes on Saturday night in Bakersfield.
On Saturday, Trence Gillem, a 5-foot-7 senior from Helix, earned a 3-2 victory over defending champion Durbin Lloren of powerhouse Clovis Buchanan to win the 132-pound state championship at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield on Saturday night at the 44th annual California state boys wrestling tournament.
Gillem, who finished eighth at last year’s finals, was the only champion from San Diego at the event this year.
The Grand Canyon University-bound Gillem rebounded from a 3-1 decision to Lloren at this year’s Doc Buchanan Tournament.
Gillem led 3-2 with a minute left.
Helix’s D’Rell Gist and Mount Miguel’s Juan Ruiz also participated in the state meet representing the Grossmont Conference.
Gillem and team, including Helix coach Adam Krzywicki, at state finals.
Gillem qualified for the tourney after winning his 140-pound weight class at last Saturday’s Masters tournament at Christian High School.
Gist placed second in his 172-pound weight class while Ruiz placed third at Masters.
Gillem and Gist both won Division I section championships, while Ruiz won the section’s Division IV title a week earlier.
At the Division I finals, Gillem scored a first-period pin in 1:02 and added technical falls of 19-4 and 16-0 to advance to the championship match against Carlsbad’s Owen Weisel.
Gillem defeated Weisel by an 11-4 decision.
At Masters, Gillem earned the No. 2 seed to Poway’s Scott Kiyono, the Division II champion, and opened the tournament with technical falls of 16-1 and 20-3 to reach the semifinals against Weisel, the No. 6 seed.
Gillem won 7-1 to meet Kiyono in the finals, then won by a 5-2 decision.
Gist earned the top seed at the Division I tournament and defeated Denzalle Hollingsworth in the championship, 3-2.
At Masters, Gist defeated Brian Hissong of La Costa Canyon in the semifinals, 3-2.
Celso Silva, of Poway, defeated Gist 3-1 in the final.
Ruiz defeated McDannold, 11-5, to earn his state bid.
Grossmont Conference section champions
Helix’s Gillem and Gist
Mt. Miguel’s Ruiz, Kevin Monroy (108 pounds), Manuel Cano (122 pounds) and Johnathan Monroy (162 pounds).
Granite Hills’ Victor Garcia (287 pounds)
West Hills’ Nick Rivinius (162 pounds)
