STOCKTON — Hours after his match ended in Saturday’s Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament at Stockton Arena, Pitman High wrestler Gustavo Verver still sported a hard-to-miss cut on his forehead. It was a reminder of how much pain he has put himself through to get to this point.
“It hurts a lot,” he said.
It’s been worth it all. The senior is one of five local wrestlers who have battled their way through a grueling postseason to be called a state tournament qualifier. The label will carry much more meaning Friday, when the CIF State Championships at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield begin a two-day showcase of arguably the toughest state tournament in the country, considering all the wrestlers from all the weight classes come together to see who is the best.
Verver, a 189-pounder, and teammate Andrew Perez (135) — and Turlock High’s Garrett Fortado (103) Jose Zuniga (112) and Fabian Garcia (119) — are all glad to be part of the state’s biggest mash-up of wrestlers.
It hasn’t been an easy journey for any of them, however.

Andrew Perez, Pitman (43-5, 15 pins): The junior has, arguably, the most compelling story line of any of the local wrestlers. He’s a transfer from Central Catholic High in Modesto. He started attending Pitman because it was closer to his home, though it didn’t hurt that he’d been around the program when older brother Vincent Perez — now an assistant for the team — was a member of the Pride. But what’s more interesting is that Andrew Perez jumped a few weight classes this season, simply to challenge himself and not worry about making the cut at the lower level.
His mindset every time he wrestles: He wants to prove people wrong, that he can compete, and beat, the bigger and stronger guys. He dominated his way to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I South Championship title before he arrived at Stockton Arena on Saturday, knowing that he could get his chance to make the loudest statement of the season. He wanted to face David Ferry, a former Central Catholic teammate, one he used to practice against for hours.
And it didn’t hurt that Ferry is a state placer.
The match was a good one, though the result wasn’t ideal for Perez after he gave up a close 4-2 decision. But he said afterward that he learned from the meeting and has dedicated the rest of the week to becoming “100 percent ready.” His older brother experienced placing second twice at the Section tournament but managed to finish higher than the wrestlers with whom he lost to at the following state tournament.

Fabian Garcia, Turlock (44-4, 27 pins): The junior has the best shot of winning a state title among the five local wrestlers. This will be his third trip to Bakersfield, though only his second time as a qualifier. As a freshman, Garcia made it to the state tournament as an alternate, but he still pulled off a Cinderella-like run and placed seventh. He followed that up with a fourth-place showing last season.
Once again, it’s going to be difficult to have a podium-finish. Two of the wrestlers he lost to this season — Poway High’s Gabe Brown and Clovis West High’s Zach Zimmer — are on his side of the 119-pound bracket.
Garcia has been challenged all season, wrestling at some of the most competitive tournaments in the nation. He placed fourth at the Reno Tournament of Champions, billed as the toughest high school tournament in the U.S.A. His latest triumph was at the Masters, where he found himself battling a relentless Isaiah Hurtado of Sheldon High in a 10-6 win for back-to-back Section titles.
Garcia’s biggest advantage is that he’s competing in the same weight class as he did last season.

Garrett Fortado, Turlock (35-4, 14 pins): After his 103 championship match at the Masters, Fortado exited the wrestling area and sat at a table in the lobby near the entrance. He let out a deep sigh, while unable to hold back a big smile. He savored how sweet the victory was, especially imagining his next wrestling destination.
Wrestling in the lowest weight class offers plenty of tough battles, but the sophomore has made his journey somewhat an easy task. Well, until the finals. Before the Masters, Fortado had to twice outlast Los Banos High’s Kendal Klette — a favorite for a state title, if it wasn’t for the fact that he sat out the majority of the season because of an injury -- at the Central California Conference and D-I South tournaments.
And then came the Masters, where he escaped with a 2-0 decision over Folsom High’s Connor Pollock. After the match, he talked about how tough it has been to get to this point. He was a junior varsity wrestler last season because Brandon Egleston was the top 103-pounder for Turlock.
Fortado’s tough battles aren’t over.

Gustavo Verver, Pitman (47-6, 19 pins): Verver remembers the heartbreak. It hurt, more than a cut on the forehead. He was just one match away from reaching the state tournament last season, but he had to settle for an offseason full of motivation.
Well, he made it. The senior’s now a state tournament qualifier after placing fourth in the 189-pound division at the Masters. He’s determined to place in the top eight, but has also expressed his desire to win a state title.
Verver’s path has been laced with some of the toughest wrestlers in the state. His two losses at the Masters were by no more than three points, including a 5-2 loss to eventual runner-up Adam Delagarza of Vacaville High in the quarterfinals. Verver will have to prove himself once again at the state tournament.
 
Jose Zuniga, Turlock (23-14, 10 pins): Zuniga has been the underdog all season. The senior wrestles with some of the state’s best in practice, such as Fabian Garcia and Garrett Fortado. And Zuniga has been tested every time he’s on the mat.
He placed second at the CCC tournament.
He took third at the D-I South tournament.
But he has proven that he can compete every time. And now, he’ll wrestle against the state’s top wrestlers this weekend. Zuniga said he’ll be ready and hopes to continue his good streak.
To contact Chhun Sun, e-mail csun@turlockjournal.com or call 634-941 ext. 2041.