Sweany captured the CIF State Championship at 195 pounds with a pin of Elk Grove’s Scott Votino under the spotlight at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield on March 3. Sweany’s state title was an impressive follow-up to the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters championship he won the previous week at Stockton Arena. Over the grueling two-day schedule at the state tournament, Sweany recorded two decisions and three pins, including the title-winning pin at the 4:00 mark in the final. The win not only gave the storied Vacaville program its 11th state champion (and second in as many years), but also lifted the Bulldogs to a third-place team finish in California.
Sweany captured the CIF State Championship at 195 pounds with a pin of Elk Grove’s Scott Votino under the spotlight at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield on March 3. Sweany’s state title was an impressive follow-up to the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters championship he won the previous week at Stockton Arena. Over the grueling two-day schedule at the state tournament, Sweany recorded two decisions and three pins, including the title-winning pin at the 4:00 mark in the final. The win not only gave the storied Vacaville program its 11th state champion (and second in as many years), but also lifted the Bulldogs to a third-place team finish in California.
SportStars Magazine: What was the atmosphere like at state, especially under the spotlight for the final match?
Jeramy Sweany: I was just really excited. I felt that I had trained hard to get there and it’s every wrestler’s dream to win a state championship.
SSM: What was going through your mind during the championship match?
JS: The match was real exciting to me because we would have dropped to fourth place in the team standings if I did not get the points for first place. I wanted to win the title to help the team “plaque” at state.
SSM: Did you have a large contingent down in Bakersfield, especially for the final match?
JS: It was huge to have my whole family there to support me, but I also had all of my teammates there. It was a great feeling to win in front of so many people that have helped me get to where I am now.
HONORABLE MENTION
Mallory Velte — The Christian Brothers senior won her second consecutive CIF Girls’ Wrestling State title with a convincing 11-2 victory in the final match. Velte’s state title capped a perfect 40-0 season.
Keith Heyer — Del Oro’s senior right-hander pitched a no-hitter in his first start of the season, a 2-0 win over Colfax on Feb. 28. Heyer struck out nine and walked two.
Chaya Durr— The Sacramento junior guard scored a game-high 27 points for the Dragons in their 48-37 win over Florin in the SJS Div. II final on March 2. She also scored 16 in the semifinal.