California holds one of my personal favorite state tournaments. And I've been able to really dial into the state scene this season. I'll list the seeds, rankings and credentials of the Top 8 for each weight class.

Brackets will be on FLOARENA after weigh ins. And of course every match will be streamed and archived LIVE ON FLO.

Special shout out to TheCaliforniaWrestler.com who do such a terrific job covering such an important part of the American high school scene. Their state ranker, Michael Cho is second to none, in my opinion.

For select weights, I've also included a sleeper that I think can make some noise that is outside of the Top 8 seeds.

106:

Top 8 Seeds:

1. So. Richard Figueroa, Selma - Cadet World Silver, Returning Champ, Flo #1
2. Fr. Jack Gioffre, Buchanan - Doc B Runner-Up, Flo #13, #57 Freshman
3. So. Andre Gonzales, Poway - Ironman 7th
4. So. Brayden Abell, Oakdale - Reno 3rd, Doc B 5th
5. Sr. Devin Garcia, James Logan
6. Fr. Fernando Barreto, Rowland - #79 Freshman
7. Fr. Ryan Luna, Saint Francis - #80 Freshman
8. Fr. Zeth Romney, Chaminade

Breakdown: Figueroa is world class and has separated himself from, well, everyone in the country. He's the #1 wrestler in the country at 106 and 113, #2 in the Class of 2021 and #7 overall in America. He's looking to keep the quest for four state titles alive after beating Carlos Negrete in last year's state finals.

Gioffre has been one of this season's suprising freshmen. His only two losses are to Figs - in Doc B and Section finals. And he has plenty of good wins including Barreto and Luna and formerly ranked Chance Lamer (OR), Joe Cangro (NJ) and Zach Espalin (AZ). 

Getting the #3 seed was huge for Poway and Gonzales. I consider him and Abell about even and being opposite of Figueroa really helps. Gonzales and Gioffre did not hit this year. They appear to be a shade above the other freshmen (Barreto and Luna) and you should consider them the favorites for the finals spot against Figs. 

Darkhorse: Omar Alvarez, Victor Valley

Prediction:  1. Figueroa   2. Gioffre   3. Abell   4. Gonzales

113:

Top 8 Seeds:

1. Jr. Tristan Lujan, Selma - Returning 4th, S32 4th, Flo #4, #38 Junior
2. So. Carlos Negrete, Buchanan - Returning Runner-Up, Doc B Champ, Flo #5, #20 Soph
3. Jr. Izzy Tubera, Pitman - Returning 7th, Doc B 6th
4. Sr. Jimmy Heryford, Sutter - 3x State Qualifier
5. So. Christian Cabuag, Monte Vista - Zinkin Runner-Up
6. Fr. Hayden Zinkin, Clovis North - #82 Freshman
7. Jr. Justin Mouritsen, Clovis - Returning 4th
8. Sr. Blake Fredrickson, Windsor - Returning 6th

Breakdown: While this appears to be a two-horse race that could be one by either Lujan or Negrete, Cabuag gave Negrete a loss this year and Zinkin is a talented FROSH from Negrete's former high school. 

Negrete gave Lujan his only loss at 113 this year - at the Doc B. Lujan's only other losses came at 120 to Maximo Renteria, and Lujan avenged his loss vs. Negrete two weeks ago. 

Heryford could be interesting. I don't think he can beat Lujan, but he has the ability to be Top 4. He's only really had one bad day all year (taking 5th at Zinkin).

Along with Cabuag, Tubera is a wild card. He spent most of the year up at 120 with losses to only nationally ranked guys. 

Despite wins over Zinkin and Negrete, Cabuag has shown inconsistency this year. He's a boom or bust guy coming in.

Darkhorse: Brock Bobzien, Poway

Prediction:  1. Negrete   2. Lujan   3. Tubera  4. Heryford

120:

Top 8 Seeds:

1. So. Maximo Renteria, Buchanan - Returning Champ, Doc B Runner-Up, Flo #11, #16 Sophomore
2. Jr. Jacob Rivera, Selma - Five Counties Champ, Flo #18
3. Sr. Brandon Paulson, Clovis - Doc B 3rd, 2017 State 6th, Flo #20
4. Fr. Joey Cruz, Clovis North - FloNationals Runner-Up, #6 Freshmen
5. Sr. Antonio Lorenzo, St. John Bosco - 3x State Placer
6. Sr. Carson Sauriol, Poway - Returning 5th, Ironman & Reno Placer
7. Jr. Richard Sandoval, Santa Ynez - Sierra Nevada Champ
8. Sr. Savion Dixon, Paloma Valley - Doc B 7th

Breakdown: WHAT. A. WEIGHT. Gotta be up for state bracket of the year. The Top 6 seeds here were all ranked nationally at some point. 

The Top 4 seeds are all from the Central Section and placed in that order last week. 

Renteria beat Aaron Nagao (who's at 126) in last year's 113 final. And as good as the field is, Maximo has separated himself; he's 9-0 this season against the other seeds. He beat Rivera 8-1. 

It was Cruz who gave Renteria his best bouts of the year, 5-3 and 3-2. But, as freshmen do, Cruz has been a bit up and down. He has a win this year over Blair's Trevor Mastrogiovanni, but also lost to Maximo's backup, Kyle Lake. He and Paulson, who has had a breakout season as a SR., have gone back and forth.

Rivera is an interesting story: excellent in youth then hung it up for a while and man, is he back.

Make no mistake about it, Lorenzo and Sauriol can knock of those above them. About the only sure thing is Maximo. Lorenzo lost by just two to Paulson and by one to Cruz.

Prediction:  1. Renteria  2. Rivera  3. Cruz  4. Paulson

126:

Top 8 Seeds:

1. Jr. Aaron Nagao, Esperanza - Returning Runner-Up, Reno Champ, Flo #9, #34 Junior
2. Jr. Devin Murphy, Clovis North - Returning 3rd, Doc B 4th, #75 Junior
3. Jr. Jason Miranda, Poway - Returning 5th, Reno Runner-Up, Flo #13, #60 Junior
4. Sr. Christan Nunez, Bishop Amat - Returning 7th
5. So. Wayne Joint, Lemoore - Five Counties 3rd
6. Sr. Cole Reyes, Frontier - Retuning 5th
7. So. Victor Jacinto, Gilroy - MidCals 3rd
8. Jr. Hunter Leake, Buchanan - Returning 7th

Breakdown: Nagao has been great this year - undefeated so far, winning Reno with a 7-0 win over Miranda in the finals.

Murphy probably earned the 2nd seed, but he fell out of the rankings last week when he lost to Leake. I think Miranda could give Murphy a go but I'm picking Murphy as just to get to the semi Miranda will have to get through Reyes, which is no gimme. 

Nunez, who was at St. John Bosco previously, is the wild card here. He has just three losses on the season - to Nagao, #1-Robbie Howard (NJ), and Daniel Cardenas (CO). He's beaten Reyes and Leake.

Prediction:  1. Nagao  2. Murphy  3. Nunez  4. Miranda

132:

Top 8 Seeds:

1. Sr. Kyle Parco, De La Salle - Doc B Champ, Reno 5th
2. So. Ryan Franco, Clovis North - Returning Runner-Up, 2x Fargo Runner-Up, Flo#14, #14 Sophomore
3. Sr. Marcos Polanco, Bishop Amat - Returning 4th, Doc B Runner-Up, Flo #17
4. So. Henry Porter, Oakdale - Returning Runner-Up, Ironman 8th, Flo #20, #23 Sophomore
5. Sr. Jose Fernandez, Upper Lake - Doc B 5th
6. Sr. Noah Mirelez, Patterson - Doc B 6th
7. Jr. Collin Hayes, Northview - Zinkin 4th
8. So. Giano Petrucelli, Clovis - 2x State 6th

Breakdown: Clear tier here with the Top 4 major favorites. 

Three nationally ranked wrestlers in this weight yet the story is the top seed who isn't ranked. Kyle Parco has had a breakout senior season. He has a combined state record of 3-6 but has just two losses this season - both at 138 at Reno, and a head-to-head win over Polanco.

He's likely facing a semi against one of America's best sophs in Henry Porter who was a runner-up last year at 120 to Nico Aguilar, who's now at Rutgers. That being said, don't sleep on Fernandez in the quarter with Porter. He knocked off Franco once this year.

The other semi should be 2x Fargo finalist Ryan Franco against Minnesota Gopher commit Polanco. The two haven't met this season.

Darkhorse: Jr. Josh Medina, Servite

Prediction:  1. Franco  2. Parco  3. Polanco  4. Porter

138:

Top 8 Seeds:

1. Jr. Jesse Vasquez, Excelsior Charter - 2x Returning Champ, 2x S32 Finalist, Flo #2, #9 Junior
2. Jr. Chase Saldate, Gilroy - Returning 3rd, Ironman 3rd, Doc B Champ, Flo #6, #26 Junior
3. Sr. Tyler Deen, Buchanan - '17 State 7th
4. Sr. Andrew Bloemhof, Bakersfield - Doc B 8th
5. Sr. Luciano Arroyo, Calvary Chapel - 3x State Placer
6. Sr. Rickey Torres, Oakdale - 2x State Placer, Reno 4th
7. Jr. Eli Blake, Del Oro - Returning 7th, Doc B 5th
8. Jr. Jaden Le, Rancho Bernardo - Ironman 8th

Breakdown: I really like this weight. After Vasquez and Saldate, all bets are off.

Vasquez is elite and on pace for the rare Cali 4-peat. He beat Alex Felix in the finals last year. He wrestled a limited in-season schedule this year but beat 3-seed Deen 12-1.

Saldate has come on strong in his JR campaign with a 3rd place finish in a monster bracket at Ironman. The Michigan State commit's only loss came there in the quarters. He too owns a win over Deen.

Seeds 3 through 8 could all vie for Top 4. Deen beat Bloemhof four times this year. Arroyo, by his standards, has just had a so-so year but he always gets it done at states. He's looking for his fourth state medal.

Le, the workout partner of Jaden Abas, had a breakout tournament at Ironman. 

Ultimately, I'm going with chalk in the Top 4 placings, but I don't feel good about it. I think this bracket gets broken up somewhere along the line.

Darkhorse: Sr. Teddy Okada, Servite

Prediction:  1. Vasquez  2. Saldate  3. Deen  4. Bloemhof

145:

Top 8 Seeds:

1. Sr. Jaden Abas, Rancho Bernardo - Returning Champ, Ironman and Super 32 2nd, Flo #2, #8 SR
2. So. Cael Valencia, St. John Bosco - Fargo 3rd, Flo #14, #8-Sophomore
3. Sr. Dawson Sihavong, Bullard - Returning 4th
4. So. Luka Wick 10 San Marino - Returning 5th, #30 Sophomore
5. Fr. Joseph Martin, Buchanan - Doc B 6th, #10 Freshman
6. Sr. John Fox, Gilroy - Doc B 5th
7. Sr. Jacob Hansen, Royal - Shootout Champ
8. Sr. Jeff Ramsthaler, Ramona - Doc B 8th

Breakdown: Looking for his second Cali title and his fourth career Top 3 placing, Jaden Abas is among the biggest favorites of the entire tournament. He's one of the best wrestlers in the country with finals appearances at Ironman and Super 32. 

I'm super high on Valencia as he went from being 'one of the Valencias' to be a full fledged stud of his own right over the last year with a double AA Fargo performance and knocked off nationally ranked guys at Ironman. He has wins over Wick, Fox, and Ramsthaler. 

Valencia should see Sihavong, a guy that's always been right on the cusp of the national Top 20 at his weight. But that will be a great quarter with Fox, a three-time state qualifier. 

Wick and Martin should make for one of the best quarters of the tournament. The two middleweight youngsters are both ranked in their respective classes.

Darkhorse: Sr. Gabe Cortez, Northview

Prediction:  1. Abas  2. Valencia  3. Wick  4. Martin

152:

Top 8 Seeds:

1. Sr. Jace Luchau, Selma - Returning 4th, Ironman Runner-Up, Flo #6, #41 Senior
2. Jr. Aaron Gandara, Poway - Arizona State Champ, Ironman 3rd, Flo #15, #62 Junior
3. Jr. JT Stinson, East Nicolaus - Returning 7th, Temecula 3rd
4. Sr. Troy Mantanona, Palm Desert - 2017 7th
5. Jr. Sonny Santiago, St. John Bosco - Returning 6th, Super 32 3rd, Flo #7, #22 Junior
6. Jr. Tyler Badgett, Rancho Bernardo - Doc B 5th, 2x State Bloodround
7. Sr. Tyee Ducharme, Vacaville - Shootout 2nd
8. Sr. Daniel Vizcarra, Gilroy - Doc B 6th

Breakdown: Very strong weight with three nationally ranked guys. 

The draw really got spun for loop when Mantanona recently beat Santiago, dropping him from the 2 or 3 seed to the 5 on the same side as Luchau.

Luchau has been great the last year with excellent performances in Akron, Fargo, and Ironman. He beat Gandara 3-1 this season along with wins over Mantanona and Badgett. His only loss in the state is to 160's top seed, Matt Olguin.

Gandara goes to powerhouse Poway after two good seasons in Arizona. He too has placed at Akron, S32, Ironman and Fargo.

Santiago has had an odd year. He had an awesome S32 in which he beat the returning champ. But then got a concussion at Ironman and had to miss a good portion of the season. His loss to Mantanona might signal that he isn't hitting on on cylinders yet. If he is, he could certainly win the whole thing.

Stinson and Mantanona are sort of X factors. Stinson has just one loss but hasn't hit most of the top guys this year. 

I'll take Santiago over Mantanona in the quarters and Luchau in that semi.

Prediction:  1. Luchau  2. Gandara   3. Santiago   4. Stinson

160:

Top 8 Seeds:

1. Sr. Matthew Olguin, Buchanan - 3x State Top 3, Flo #4, #44 Senior
2. Sr. Noah Blake, Del Oro - 3x State Placer, Ironman 5th
3. Sr. Max Aguirre, Frontier - Returning 4th, Doc B 4th
4. So. Max Wilner, Fountain Valley - Five Counties Champ, #44 Sophomore
5. Sr. Ankhaa Enkhmandakh, De La Salle - Reno 5th, Doc B 7th
6. Jr. Kendall Larosa, Pitman - Chukchansi Champ
7. Sr. Louis Rojas, St. John Bosco - Doc B 8th
8. Jr. Alex Hernandez, Poway - Reno 7th

Breakdown: Olguin is quietly on the precipice of an All-Time career in Cali with placings of 1st-3rd-3rd. A second title would give him just two losses at states in his four years. Simply incredible. And to cap it off, he's a senior that's wrestling the best he's ever had. He has already majored the #2 seed in this bracket. He would lead my pre-tournament contenders list for Most Outstanding Wrestler.

Blake was 3rd last year losing only to Joel Romero and beating Aguirre by a point. His only two in-state losses were to Olguin, 10-2 and 4-1. 

Wilner made the bloodround last year and has only lost to Olguin and Gandara in state this season.

While Enkhmandakh has been a bit inconsistent, he certainly has the ability to land Top 3. He's split with Aguirre this season. 

Darkhorse: Jr. Will Kloster, Lemoore

Prediction:  1. Olguin   2. Blake   3. Aguirre   4. Wilner

170:

Top 8 Seeds:

1. Sr. Trey Munoz, Trabuco Hills - Returning Runner-Up, Doc B Champ, Flo #16, #62 Senior
2. Sr. Christian Rodriguez, Selma - Returning 3rd, Ironman 5th, Doc B 3rd,
3. Sr. Mark Cardwell, Monache - Returning 4th
4. Sr. Ryan Cosio, Temecula Valley - Returning 4th
5. Sr. Daniel Long, Dinuba - Returning 6th
6. So. Rocco Contino, Buchanan - Doc B 7th
7. Jr. Jarad Priest, Bakersfield - Doc B 6th
8. Sr. Gabriel Martinez, Oakdale - Returning Runner-Up, Reno 4th

Breakdown: Really great group of proven upperclassmen with a ton of state medals. It's led by the Arizona State-bound Munoz who was a runner-up last year at 152 to Dom Mata, who's now at Blair Academy. 

Munoz has been utterly dominant this year. He's undefeated and has two 2pt. wins over Rodriguez. He should get Martinez, another state runner-up in what should be one of the best quarterfinals.

Martinez comes in as the 8 seed having dropped matches this season to Priest and Contino.

Rodriguez beat Cardwell in the 3rd place match at the same weight last year. He's been very solid in a top tier national schedule. 

Cosio was also 4th last year at 182. 

Prediction:  1. Munoz  2. Rodriguez  3. Cardwell  4. Martinez

182:

Top 8 Seeds:

1. Sr. Trent Tracy, Frontier - Returning State Champ
2. Jr. Nathan Haas, St. John Bosco - Ironman 8th, Doc B 3rd
3. Jr. Tyler Gianakopulos, Clovis - Returning 7th, Doc B 7th
4. Sr. Jonovan Smith, Birmingham - Returning 8th
5. Sr. Malik Lewis, Franklin-EG - Doc B 8th
6. Sr. Jack Kilner, Granada - Doc B Runner Up
7. So. Javen Jovero, Rancho Bernardo - 2018 Blood Round
8. Jr. Joe Curtis, La Costa Canyon - Reno 3rd, Temecula 3rd

Breakdown: This weight has a clear pecking order with four tiers. 1) Tracy. 2) Haas. 3) Gianakopulous. 4. The rest.

Other than an indjury default at Doc B, Tracy has been dominant. He's undefeated otherwise and won Chukchansi and MidCals. He just majored Gianakopulous.

Haas had an excellent summer as a Fargo Cadet FS finalist. He has a win over Gianakopulous, 6-0. 

Gianakopulous has beat all the guys behind him: Kilner, Rodriguez, Annis, and Smith.

I'm very intrigued what happens beyond these three. I like Kilner, Curtis, and Rodriguez as guys that could get into the Top 4. 

Kilner was the runner-up to Chris Foca (NJ) at Doc B. 

Darkhorse: Jr. Felipe Rodriguez, Clovis West

Prediction:  1. Haas   2. Tracy  3. Gianakopulous  4. Curtis

195:

Top 8 Seeds:

1. Sr. Ryan Reyes, Gilroy - 3x State Placer, Ironman 3rd, Doc B 3rd, Flo #7, #43 Senior
2. Sr. Adrian Chavez, Liberty - Returning 6th, Chukchansi Champ
3. Jr. Jadon Martin, Buchanan - Doc B 7th
4. Sr. Cody Golding, Oakdale -
5. Jr. Peter Ming, Elk Grove - Doc B 4th
6. Sr. Ben Gould, Valencia -
7. Jr. Tristen Wilson, Servite -
8. Sr. Andrew Rasmussen, Faith Baptist  -

Breakdown: Ryan Reyes has been nationally ranked and knocking on the door of a state title for quit a long time. he's gone 7th-3rd-3rd and is the clear favorite. His two losses were to out of state guys Christensen (IL) and Berryhill (OK).

Beyond Reyes is a field of guys mostly unproven at the state level. Not a single wrestler with a state medal among them.

Golding is a little small for the weight, wrestling 182 most of the year. Ming is coming down from 220. 

Gould is undefeated this year but hasn't hit any of the top guys. He's a 2x state qualifier with a 3-4 career record at the tournament. 

Darkhorse: Jr. Brandon Leon, Roosevelt

Prediction:  1. Reyes  2. Chavez  3. Ming  4. Leon

220:

Top 8 Seeds:

1. Sr. Victor Jaquez, Bellarmine Prep - Returning 3rd, FloNationals 3rd, Flo #7, #82 Senior
2. Sr. Jacob Good, Clovis - Returning 4th, Doc B 4th
3. Sr. Erich Osteen, Chaminade - Returning 5th, Doc B 5th
4. Jr. Guillermo Escobedo, Bishop Amat - Returning 6th, Temecula Runner-Up
5. Sr. Mike Ruiz, Villa Park - Doc B Champ
6. So. Jacob Christensen, Durham - Five Counties Runner-Up
7. Sr. Kyle Richards, Folsom - Sierra Nevada Runner-Up, Doc B 3rd
8. So. Justen Darter, Bakersfield - Returning 8th

Breakdown: Had you asked me before the season, I'd have told you Jaquez was a shoo-in for a state title. He's been 5th and 3rd before and had a great FloNationals. 

While he's still a heavy favorite, the emergence and move to 220 of Jacob Good makes things a little more interesting. Good wrestled much of the season at 195.

Ruiz won Doc B where he beat Osteen. Jacquez forfeited w/ an injury to him in the finals. Osteen just pinned him in sectionals. Osteen beat Richards at Doc B but Richards went on to place higher. 

This is a very, very competitive weight. Great depth top to bottom.

Darkhorse: Jr. Chris Island, Vacaville

Prediction:  1. Jaquez  2. Good   3. Escobedo  4. Darter

285:

Top 8 Seeds:

1. Jr. Nicholas Villarreal, Gilroy - Returning 6th, Ironman 3rd, Doc B 2nd, Flo #12, #78 Junior
2. Sr. Michael Jeffus, Turlock - Returning 5th
3. Sr. Justin Ramos, Vista Del Lago - Sierra Nevada Champ
4. Sr. Levi Markey, Del Campo - Returning 7th
5. Sr. Cohle Feliciano, Fremont - MidCals Runner-Up
6. Jr. Andrew Johnson, Poway - Ironman 7th, Reno 3rd
7. Jr. Josiah Hill, Bakersfield - Doc B 7th, Temecula Champ
8. Sr. Randy Arriaga, Capistrano Valley  - Temecula 4th

Breakdown: Fantastic year for Villarreal. Just two losses, both to Top 5 guys nationally. 

That being said, it's not a foregone conclusion. Jeffus and Villarreal were to meet in the 5th place bout at state a year ago, but Villarreal defaulted. 

Jeffus and Ramos split bouts this year. Both own wins over Markey this season. 

I really like the seasons Johnson and Hill have had. The two best JR heavies in the state, that can contend for Top 4. 

Darkhorse: Sr. Josh Avila, Rowland

Prediction: 1. Villarreal  2. Johnson  3. Jeffus  4. Ramos