It was a historic moment for Santa Barbara High wrestling when Jonathan Corona stepped on the mat at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield to compete in the CIF State Championships.
Corona is the first Dons boys wrestler to reach the state championships.
He made more history when he pinned Evanjames Keppler of Fresno-Edison in the first period of a consolation Round of 32 match in the 190-pound weight class, becoming the first in the boys program at his school to win a state match.
Corona, the Channel League champion, CIF-SS Divisional runner-up and fourth-place finisher at the CIF-SS Masters Meet, went 1-2 in Bakersfield. He lost his first-round match against David Rapp of Fresno-Central on a second-period fall and was beaten in the consolation Round of 16 by Mathew Gutierrez of Brawley, also by fall in the second period.
“He battled it out; we’re all proud of him,” said Angel Corona, Jonathan’s older brother, a Santa Barbara High wrestling alum who helped coach him.
Angel Corona praised the work of head coach Chris Hamman.
“Coach Hamman is a big reason why Jonathan was able to make it this far and make history. He’s a solid coach. Santa Barbara High has a bright future with him as their coach. He’s very humble and doesn’t like to take credit but he really is a good coach and he cares a lot about his wrestlers.”
Said Hamman of his senior wrestler: “I’m really proud of how Jon wrestled at state. He learns from each match and applies it to the next one, which is all I can ask for. He’s provided our team with a blueprint for how to approach the sport that allows for athlete-coach collaboration and success. I’m gonna miss training with him and watching him wrestle in a Don’s singlet but I’m looking forward to seeing what he does next.”