HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING

BEAUDETTE BOWS OUT

BAKERSFIELD — In his first trip to the CIF State wrestling championships, Newport Harbor High senior heavyweight Brian Beaudette lasted only two matches.

Beaudette opened the two-day, double-elimination tournament at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield with a tough loss. He fell, 8-5, to Ira Winn of Foothill of Palo Cedra.

Newport Harbor Coach Dominic Bulone said the result impacted Beaudette going into his second match. Beaudette was eliminated from the tournament after losing to Willie Hernandez of Norte Vista, 6-3.

“He had to wrestle again in less than an hour, and he had not recovered mentally,” Bulone said. “He sort of was frustrated and not wrestling his normal style.”

Beaudette finished the season at 32-13. He was the first Sailors’ wrestler to qualify for state since Rigo Pinon did in 1998.

“I’m really proud of him,” said Bulone of Beaudette, who was Bulone’s first wrestler to make state in his eight years as coach. “He came to the program as a below-average wrestler and he turned himself into a state qualifier. Now the rest of the guys in our program have hope.”