Dream Comes True: Lizarraga Wins NCS Wrestling

admitted he always dreamed of going to the California State Wrestling Championships.

Not only will he be going next week, he'll be going as the North Coast Section champion.

The junior overcame an early deficit to beat Chris Caldwell of Las Lomas 7-3 in the 103-pound finals Saturday night, claiming the NCS championship and punching his ticket to Bakersfield for the State Championships.

"I wanted to leave no doubt I was the best," Lizarraga said of the tournament, during which he recorded four relatively easy wins en route to the finals as the No. 2 seed. "This is fantasy. Surreal. I can't believe it happened."

It almost didn't. Caldwell, who had upset top-seeded Troy Lakin of Clayton Valley in the semifinals, grabbed the early lead. But Lizarraga battled back and then held on ... nervously.

"I was nervous pretty much throughout, especially when I was behind," he admitted. "I was confident my training would pay off."

And now, with a 38-3 record, it's off to the State Championships.

"It's crazy," he said of his first-ever trip to the prestigious event. "I can't wait."

Lizarraga's title ended a long drought for the Marin County Athletic League and for San Marin. The MCAL hadn't had an NCS champ since 2002. For the Mustangs, it had been 1989 since Mike Tyler and Ryan O'Leary captured NCS crowns.

As expected, Lizarraga breezed into the semifinals with three comfortable wins, two by pin. His only non-pin was a 7-1 quarterfinal romp over seventh-seeded Devon Lyle of Liberty.

His semifinal triumph Saturday was by that same 7-1 score, over sixth-seeded John Eberle of Foothill.

San Marin coach Dennis Davis was as excited as his wrestler afterward, after attempting to keep Lizarraga calm for two days.

"This was a tough division," he said of the wide-open 103-pound division. "There were a group of about 12 guys who had a chance. We knew he was going to have to be flawless -- and he pretty much was. This was his best tournament.

"We knew going in he had a legit shot at winning this tournament. But he had to keep an even keel because there were so many good wrestlers."

Lizarraga was one of two San Marin wrestlers who had made it through Friday's gruelling preliminary rounds. made it to the final 12 in the 171-pound division before falling to Aaron Swift of Clayton Valley on Saturday.

Kates had responded strong after losing by pin in his first match to quickly take care of business in his next three matches. He had two pins – including one in 11 seconds – and a 15-0 win in that stretch.

Seniors (112), (152) and (215) combined for five wins before getting eliminated in their respective divisions.

Novato’s five-wrestler contingent won a total of four matches, half of which were recorded by in the 171-pound competition. The junior alternated 16-7 and 12-0 blowout wins with a couple of pins.

The Hornets’ other two wins were recorded by junior (112) and sophomore (135).