El Dorado’s Isaiah Quintero healthy and hungry for a second CIF State title – Orange County Register

Isaiah Quintero has his goals for the 2023-24 wrestling season, which include winning another state championship.

First, though, he had to get healthy enough to pursue his other goals.

Quintero, a senior at El Dorado High and a CIF State wrestling champion as a sophomore, broke the fibula in his right leg while playing for the school’s football team in August. That injury had the potential to end Quintero’s football season and perhaps limit his readiness for the wrestling season.

He accepted the challenge.

“I told everyone I would do all the rehab, all the strength training, to get better as soon as I could,” Quintero said.

He returned to football action for El Dorado’s regular-season finale on Oct. 27. Quintero was a top contributor for the Golden Hawks as they advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division 7 championship game in which they lost to Mayfair by three points. He rushed for 374 yards and six touchdowns over El Dorado’s four playoff games, including 117 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries in the Division 7 final.

Quintero, who stands at 5 feet and 4 inches, is ranked No. 2 in California at 126 pounds by CalGrappler.com. He was state champion at 106 pounds in his sophomore year two seasons ago. Last year Quintero lost to Gilroy’s Isaiah Cortez in a 1-0 decision in the CIF State meet at 120 pounds.

“I’m looking for that second state championship,” Quintero said. “That’s a big priority for me. It’s been on my mind all year.”

Another goal is to win at the prestigious Doc Buchanan Invitational Jan. 5 and 6 in Clovis. The champions are awarded a white cowboy hat, which Quintero does not have amid all of his medals and trophies.

“I want to get that cowboy hat at the ‘Doc B,’” he said. “I hope to get that monkey off my back.”

Quintero, who signed a letter of intent with Purdue, said he has been working on improving his foot work on the mat.

“I’m just trying to get more relentless,” he said. “Get more points on my feet, more escape points and more points just overall.”

Quintero figures he might launch his season at the Ed Springs Holiday Classic tournament at Brea Olinda on Dec. 15 and 16. His long football season might delay his senior season debut to a later tournament.

Wherever and whenever, Quintero will be ready to go.

NOTES

• The CIF boys wrestling divisions have changed this season. The weight classes are: 106 pounds, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, 215 and 285. …

• Some of the top boys wrestling tournaments this season include the Tournament of Champions at Sonora, Dec. 29 and 30; San Clemente Rotary Classic at San Clemente, Jan. 5 and 6; and Five Counties at Fountain Valley, Jan. 19 and 20. …

• The CIF-SS boys dual meet championships in six divisions, including an Open Division, are Jan. 27. The individual championships are Feb. 9-10, followed by the CIF-SS Masters Meet Feb. 16 and the CIF State Meet Feb. 22-24. …

• Orange County boys teams on the CIF-SS Open Division watch list of candidates are Calvary Chapel, Corona del Mar, Esperanza, Fountain Valley and Servite. …

• CalGrappler.com’s CIF-SS girls wrestling rankings have Marina at No. 3 and Newport Harbor at No. 9. San Clemente is in the “honorable mention” category. …

• The Santa Ana Varsity Girls Wrestling tournament is this Friday and Saturday (Dec. 1 and 2) at Santa Ana High. …

• CIF-SS girls dual meet championships in four divisions are Jan. 27 for preliminary rounds and Jan. 31 for the finals. The individual championships are Feb. 9-10. The CIF-SS Girls Masters Meet is Feb. 17 followed by the CIF State meet Feb. 22-24.

BOYS WRESTLING

Top wrestlers to watch this season

Isaiah Quintero, El Dorado, Sr., 120 lbs. Going for a second state championship.

Eugenio Franco, Corona del Mar, Sr., 190 lbs. A CIF Southern Section Masters Meet champion who finished third at the CIF State meet last year.

Ryland Whitworth, Fountain Valley, Sr., 215 lbs. He was a CIF-SS Inland Division and Masters champion last season.

Hercules Windrath, Fountain Valley, Sr, 150 lbs. He was a CIF-SS Inland Division champion last season.

Anthony Lucio, Fountain Valley, Sr., 120 lbs. He was an Inland Division champion last season.

Max McWilliams, Calvary Chapel, Sr., 190 lbs. McWilliams was second in the CIF-SS Eastern Division finals last season.

Khale McDonnel, Fountain Valley, Jr.,165 lbs. An Inland Division champion last season.

Aaron Silva.Calvary Chapel, So.,132 lbs. His excellent freshman season included winning a CIF-SS Eastern Division title.

Antonio Aramburu, Corona del Mar, Sr., 165 lbs. Aramburu was second in the Inland Division meet last season.

Elijah Poe, Calvary Chapel, Sr., 106 lbs. He was second in the Eastern Division finals.

GIRLS WRESTLING

Top wrestlers to watch this season

Lilyana Balderas, Anaheim, So., 130 lbs. Ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section in her weight class by CalGrappler.com. She is a returning CIF-SS and Masters champion, was second at CIF State meet.

Kylee Golz, Trabuco Hills, Trabuco Hills, Jr., 120 lbs. First-place finishes in the CIF-SS finals and Masters, third at the CIF State meet. CalGrappler.com has her at No. 1 in the section for her weight class.

Gwen Jewell, Foothill, Jr., 125 lbs. Jewell was a CIF-SS champion last season, finished second at Masters and went 2-2 in the CIF State meet.

Berlyn Davis, San Clemente, Jr., 147 lbs. Davis was a Masters champion last season and was third in the state meet. CalGrappler.com has her at No. 1 in the section at 147.

Delainey Jorgensen, Foothill, Sr., 135 lbs. She is ranked No. 1 in the section by CalGrappler after finishing third in the Masters meet last season.

Andrea Ramirez, Valencia, Sr., Hwt. She was a CIF-SS champion at 170 pounds last season.

Duda Rodriguez, Newport Harbor, Sr., 157 lbs. Rodriguez was a CIF State champion last season. CalGrappler has her ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section for her weight class.

Angela Salazar, Santa Ana, Jr., 170 lbs. The top-ranked Southern Section competitor at her weight class, was a CIF-SS champion last year.

Alicia Serratos, Santa Ana, Jr., 110 lbs. Serratos was at Laguna Hills last season where she finished second in the CIF-SS finals.

Anabelle Serratos, Santa Ana Fr., 115 lbs. She asserted herself as one to watch this season when she finished first in the early-season Big Kat tournament.