San Lorenzo Valley High wrestler Cody Rodebaugh finished just short in his bid to become the first wrestler from Santa Cruz County to repeat as state champion.
Rodebaugh, wrestling at 145 pounds, fell to Vacaville’s Tyler Johnson, the top-ranked wrestler in California, by a count of 13-7 at Rabobank Arena in Fresno on Saturday, March 6. It was the second time Johnson beat Rodebaugh this season.
Rodebaugh swept into the final with wins over Foster Fretland of Del Oro High School, Brandon Sotomayor of Centennial High School, Shervin Iranhia from Monta Vista High School and Matt Hickman from Camarillo.
However, Rodebaugh could not capture his second state title in as many years. In 2009, he won the state crown grappling at 140 pounds.
Rodebaugh finished his high school career with a 197-21 record, and he will wrestle on a full-ride scholarship for North Carolina at Greensborough in the fall.
Cougar teammate Logan Kellogg made a splash of his own. Wrestling at 189 pounds, Kellogg lost in his first-round bout, 6-4, to Jordan Rubio of Righetti High, but came back to win two matches over Luis Bojorquez of Buhach Colony, 4-1, and Ivan Ortiz of Magnolia High, 13-5, before falling to eventual fifth-place finisher Preston Quam of San Clemente High,14-7.
Kellogg, a junior, made his first appearance at the state meet after winning the Central Coast Section title.
