For Folsom High’s wrestling team, the high school season ended at the state tournament on Friday in Bakersfield.

The Bulldogs had two representatives at the tournament, as sophomore Connor Pollock and senior Dillon Fader competed for a medal. Unfortunately for both wrestlers, they both won only one match before being eliminated.

Competing at 103 pounds, Pollock opened the tournament against Victor Lopez of Poway, who, like Pollock, was an honorable mention selection in the state rankings in late February. Pollock scored the first points of the match, but when the third period started Lopez led by one.

It was there that Lopez took Pollock down to his back and pinned him to advance to the second round. Lopez went on to place second in the tournament, while Pollock was headed to the consolation bracket.

Pollock shook off the loss quickly, as he worked up a 10-0 lead before pinning Artemio Flores of James Logan High. Next up was Damien Gomez of Warren High, who was ranked third in the state in late February. Pollock worked up a 3-0 lead with a takedown and an escape, but in the second period Gomez put Pollock on his back and pinned him.

“Connor ended up in the top-24 in the state as a sophomore,” Folsom coach Mike Collier said. “He had a great season and can build on his state experience to try and get on the medal stand the next two years. Pollock placed in every other tournament he entered this year and finished with an outstanding 43-8 record.”

Fader competed in the 171-pound weight class and unlike Pollock, won his match, beating Castro Valley’s Adam Busch, 7-5.

Fader controlled Busch for the start, working up a 7-2 lead before Busch scored a 3-point near-fall at the end of the match.

“It was so awesome win that first match,” Fader said. “Going into the tournament I knew it would be tough, but I thought I could have done better. After that win I started to have more faith in myself and it was a good start that way.”

Fader then met Martin Fabbian of Buchanan, who placed second at the state meet a year ago and was ranked fourth in the state this year. Fabbian went on to defeat Fader, 8-0.

“He’s a few inches taller than me and is just a big, strong kid,” Fader said. “I couldn’t wrestle my match.”

Collier agreed.

“Fabbian’s strength and experience was too much,” Collier said. “He won the match 8-0 and went on to place fifth in the tournament.”

Fader then lost to Tyler Edwards of Monterey, 6-0, in what was the last match of his high school career.

“He had a weird style and he was strong and it was hard for me to adapt,” Fader said.

Despite the disappointing loss, Fader said his high school career had a great ending.

“It was a great way to end my career,” Fader said of qualifying for the state tournament. “It’s sad that it’s over, but I’m glad it ended the way it did.”

Collier added, “Dillon can look back at his high school career and be proud of the fact he got to compete with the best in California. After qualifying for the Sac-Joaquin Masters as a freshman, Fader’s sophomore and junior seasons were cut short because of injury. That made this year’s performance a season of redemption, as he got to finish and show what he was capable. Fader finished in the top-32 for all of California, and finished his career as a two-time Delta River league champion, Division I Section runner up, a three-time Masters Qualifier, team captain and state qualifier. On the team side, we won the Delta River League all of his four years and never lost a league dual meet.”

Wilcox aiming for championship

Todd Wilcox, a 2006 graduate of Folsom High, has qualified for the Division II NCAA National Championships in Omaha, NE, this week.

Wilcox is a scholarship wrestler for Grand Canyon University in Arizona, a scholarship that he earned after winning the state champions for Sierra College last year in the 133-pound weight class.

Wilcox has a 37-5 record this season and is ranked fifth in the country.

While at Folsom High, Wilcox was a Sac-Joaquin Section Master Champion and well as a state medallist.