For the first time in program history, both the Buchanan boys and girls wrestling teams stood atop the podium as CIF state champions. This golden sweep cemented the Bears’ place among California’s elite.
The boys, already a powerhouse, made it look almost routine, claiming their second straight state crown and 10th overall, Buchanan piled up a commanding 288.5 points to outdistance Poway’s 229.5 in a dominant team performance.
But nothing about their performance was routine; match after match, the Bears wrestled with poise, precision, and purpose under coach Troy Tirapelle.
Three individual state champions led the charge. Paul Ruiz battled his way to the 126-pound title. Rocklin Zinkin captured the 120-pound crown, marking his third consecutive state championship — a rare feat that places him among the state’s all-time greats.
At 132 pounds, Ashton Besmer powered through the bracket to seize his own first-place finish, adding to Buchanan’s growing trophy haul.
While the boys were defending a dynasty, the girls were building one.
Equally dominant and equally determined, the Buchanan girls sent three wrestlers to the finals and left no doubt about their championship credentials.
When the final whistle blew, the Bears stood tall with 147.5 team points. Marina was second with 109 points.
Alexandria Marin (100 pounds) and Christina Estrada (110 pounds) each climbed to the top of the podium.
Their victories not only added crucial points but also set the tone for a team that wrestled with confidence and belief from start to finish.
Buchanan’s wrestlers weren’t the only ones standing atop the podium.
Other top wrestlers from the Fresno area
Clovis crowned three champions of its own. Michael Bemabe handled business at 106 pounds, Anthony Garza followed with a title at 113, and Jonathan Rocha sealed his 190-pound championship with an emphatic fall in the finals.
On the girls side, Central East’s Me’kala James controlled her championship bout with a 9-2 decision to claim the 125-pound title. Clovis added another gold medal when Leilani Lemus rose to the top at 170 pounds.
Lemus became only the fifth girls wrestler in championship history to win four state titles.
This story was originally published February 28, 2026 at 9:52 PM.
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Anthony Galaviz writes about sports for The Fresno Bee. He covers the Las Vegas Raiders, high schools, boxing, MMA and junior colleges. He’s been with The Bee since 1997 and attended Fresno City College before graduating from Fresno State with a major in journalism and a minor in criminology.
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