Sunnyvale Wrestling Club Builds Momentum Across Three Major Events

Written By Daniel McCune

Sunnyvale Wrestling Club put together an impressive stretch of competition over the past two weeks, competing at the 2026 Northwest Regional Championships (March 27–29), the SCVWA Combat King Open (March 28), and the SCVWA Earthquake Open (April 4). From national-level competition to local tournaments, Sunnyvale athletes demonstrated resilience, growth, and high-level performance across all age groups.

Northwest Regional Championships (Fargo Qualifier)

March 27–29, 2026

Competing against top talent from across multiple states, Sunnyvale Wrestling Club tested itself on one of the biggest stages of the spring at the Northwest Regional Championships—a qualifier for the prestigious Fargo National Tournament.

Aydan McCune led the way for Sunnyvale with a strong performance in the Junior Freestyle 106 lb division, finishing 6th place in a competitive bracket.

After dropping an early match in 16U Freestyle, Aydan battled back with a pin over Adrian Torres, showing resilience against high-level competition. In the Junior division, he secured an impressive quarterfinal pin before advancing deep into the bracket.

Aydan ultimately faced some of the top wrestlers in the region, including finalist Stephano Calderon and NorCal standout Matthew Ratteree. Despite tough losses late in the tournament, his sixth-place finish qualifies him for the Junior division at Fargo.

Also competing at the regional level was Landen Squires in the Junior 120 lb division. After an early setback, Landen fought back through the consolation rounds with back-to-back technical falls (14-4 and 16-6), demonstrating grit and determination before falling just short of the placement rounds.

The Northwest Regional Championships provided invaluable experience for Sunnyvale wrestlers, preparing them for the intensity and depth of national-caliber competition.

Combat King Open Highlights (March 28)

Sunnyvale returned home and immediately made an impact at the Combat King Open, highlighted by dominant performances and strong depth across the roster.

Champions and Standouts

Lillian Fonceca captured double gold in Junior Girls Freestyle and Greco-Roman, earning multiple technical falls and controlling her brackets from start to finish.

Additional champions included:

  • Fan Wang (14U Boys Freestyle) – dominant run with a pin and technical fall victories

  • Victor Lopez Villatoro (16U Boys Freestyle) – standout performance featuring a 22-second pin and multiple technical falls

  • Islam Nabiullin (10U Boys Greco-Roman) – rebounded from an early loss to claim gold with consecutive pins

Key Performances

  • James Morimoto (8U) opened with a 30-second pin and finished as runner-up

  • Gavin Edmonds (8U) battled back to place second

  • Islam Nabiullin (10U Freestyle) recorded a technical fall and pin en route to second place

Sunnyvale showed strong depth throughout:

  • Jovanni Lozornio and Noah Talledo competed in a tough 12U bracket, with Lozornio earning a technical fall in placement rounds

  • Dominic Kaharov placed in both Freestyle and Greco

  • Joaquin De Anda and Christopher Hernandez both reached the podium in 14U, including a competitive head-to-head matchup

  • Miriama Streb earned a runner-up finish in 16U Girls

  • Maya Camarena secured a podium finish with a late pin

Earthquake Open Highlights (April 4)

Sunnyvale carried its momentum into the Earthquake Open, delivering multiple dominant championship performances.

Champions

McKenzie McCune (12U Girls Freestyle) dominated her bracket with two technical falls (16-3, 11-0) and a pin in the finals.

Owen Cha (14U Boys Freestyle) controlled his matches, earning a 10-2 decision before finishing with a pin to claim gold.

Jorge Villagomez (Junior Boys Heavyweight) powered through the bracket with two technical falls to secure the title.

Aydan McCune’s Outstanding Weekend

Aydan continued his strong run following Regionals with an incredible multi-division performance:

  • 1st place – 16U Freestyle

  • 2nd place – Junior Freestyle

  • 3rd place – 16U Greco-Roman

His tournament included a pin, multiple dominant wins, and success against older competition—highlighting his toughness and endurance.

Additional Placers

  • Christopher Hernandez – 3rd place (14U Freestyle)

  • Eric Santamaria – 4th place (16U Freestyle), including a key technical fall victory

Looking Ahead

From national-level competition at a Fargo qualifier to strong local tournament performances, Sunnyvale Wrestling Club continues to build momentum. Wrestlers showed the ability to compete through adversity, bounce back in consolation rounds, and finish strong—key traits for success at the next level.

With multiple champions, numerous podium finishes, and valuable high-level experience, Sunnyvale is trending upward as the season progresses. The focus now turns to continued development and preparing for the challenges ahead.

Daniel McCune

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Sunnyvale to Host Wrestling FUNdamentals Camp Featuring Elite Clinician Jeff Marsh