‘For the Throne’ dual meet: Poway at Clovis Buchanan

When: Saturday. The girls’ meet starts at 11 a.m., with the boys’ meet starting at noon.

Where: Buchanan High School, Clovis

Boys preview: Buchanan is ranked No. 1 in the nation after logging tournament victories in Ohio and the stacked Doc Buchanan in Clovis, where they outscored previous national No. 1 Faith Christian of Pennsylvania by 40 points. The Bears have dominated the state for the past decade, winning seven straight state titles between 2016 to 2023 before a record-breaking performance by Poway ended the run in 2024. Buchanan reclaimed its crown last year ahead of second-place Poway. Eight Bears have a combined 14 state medals, led by two-time state champion Rocklin Zinkin, who is heading to Oklahoma. Six Buchanan boys are ranked No. 1 in the state: freshman Thales Silva (106 pounds), Zinkin (120), Paul Ruiz (126), West Point-bound Ashton Bessmer (132), three-time state finalist and Cornell commit Joseph Toscano (144). … Poway is ranked No. 8 in the country and No. 3 in California. The Titans have beaten the Bears the past two years in dual meets. They finished tied for fourth at Doc Buchanan despite being without two-time state place-winner and Cornell commit Areseni Kikiniou. Leading Poway is defending 165-pound state champion and the current nation’s No. 1-ranked 175-pounder Mario Carini. He has already committed to Virginia Tech. Behind Carini, the Titans have Cal Poly commit Dominic Dotson (190) and state third-place heavyweight medalist Mick Moylan (215). Kikiniou may face Toscano in a battle of Cornell commits at 144.

Girls preview: Buchanan is ranked No. 2 in California. Like their male counterparts, the Bears are one of the strongest programs in the state. Last year, they finished third in the State Meet with a trio of medalists. Christina Estrada led the way, capturing the 100-pound title. She is currently ranked No. 2 in the USA at 110 pounds. Marcia Nunez was fifth at 105 a year ago and Olivia Faust was eighth at 155. Freshman Trinity Garza is already ranked No. 8 in the state. Senior Mariana Gonzalez went 2-2 in Bakersfield at 110 pounds and sophomore Alina Dablanalso qualified at 115 pounds. … Poway is ranked No. 5 in California: The Titans weren’t far behind Buchanan at last year’s state meet, finishing sixth with 62.5 points with three medalists. Ava Fodera was a state finalist at 105 pounds. She is currently No. 3 in California and No. 8 in the country. Other state medalists back for the Titans are Ava Ebrahimi, fifth at 120 last year, and Noemi Cordero, seventh at 110. Poway has an outstanding freshman in Aleia Apostol, currently ranked No. 8 in the state and No. 17 in the USA at 125. The Titans recently claimed eight champions at the Esperanza Holiday Classic to win the event: Ava Fodera (105 pounds), Cordero (115), Ebrahimi (120), Apostol (125), Sophia Fodera (130), Edna Rodguez (135), Kaitlyn Kernz (140) and Emmy Jane Bragg (155).

— KEVIN J. FARMER