Live Oak sophomore Isaiah Locsin earned a second straight berth in the CIF state finals with a 9-4 victory over Canyon’s Matt Nader on Saturday in Bakersfield.
The second-ranked Locsin will wrestle No. 1 Jonas Gayton of Clovis for the 113-pound title at about 7:30 p.m. today at Rabobank Arena.
Locsin can cap an undefeated season with the ultimate prize.
“It feels good,” said Locsin, who lost last year’s 103-pound final, 6-4, to Johnson Mai of North Torrance. “I just got to finish, take first, push hard, focus and listen to my coaches.”
Locsin surrendered a takedown about 30 minutes into the match but was in control the rest of the way. He scored six consecutive points on two takedowns and a pair of escapes.
Locsin got into a predicament early in the third round when he hooked his arms under Nader and spun to try and take him down. Nader slipped behind him for two points and had a chance at a possible near fall, but Locsin exploded for an escape and a 7-4 lead.
“I just tried to stay focused, stay composed,” Locsin said.
The two-time Central Coast Section champion attacked Nader’s right ankle for another takedown with about 45 seconds left and stayed on top the rest of the match.
“I just had to fight the whole match and keep pushing,” Locsin said.
Now, Locsin will face the Central Section champion, Gaytan, a Clovis junior who pinned No. 3 Micah Perez late in the second round of their semifinal.
Locsin, Live Oak’s first and only CIF state finalist, is ready to make history again.
“It feels about the same as last year,” he said. “I’m just hungrier.”
Notes: Nader entered the match ranked eighth in the state. He was making his second state championships appearance. … Locsin was coming off a 7-3 quarterfinals win over No. 15 Sean Williams of Lemoore, part of a 4-0 opening day for Locsin.
