Mesa’s Franco wins tournament crown

Costa Mesa High senior wrestler Jesse Franco won a thrilling final

match to capture the championship in the 145-pound division in the

Troy Classic at Troy High Saturday.

Seniors Matt Grubisich (140-pound division) and Adam Donovan (152)

earned second-place honors in their respective weight classes, while

junior Christian Rivero finished fourth in the 125s.

Franco defeated a Santa Margarita opponent, 3-2, in the title

match. With the score tied, 2-2, Franco pulled off an escape with 30

seconds remaining to attain the victory. He won his first three

matches by pin before reaching the final.

Donovan won his first two matches by pin and then upset the No. 2

seed in the semifinals.

Grubisich also won his first two matches by pin and then won, 8-2,

in the semifinals. He lost in the finals, 11-9.

* In a 16-team invitational at San Clemente, Newport Harbor’s Kid

Lim was second at 112 pounds with a 4-1 record, and Nate Geier (16-5)

was fourth at 135 pounds.