REPEAT: Aaron Ceballos (left) takes on the best in a National dual match last year for team California. The Manteca wrestler will do the same at the 125-pound junior division in 2008.

John Sachs/Techfall.com 

         With the taste of an early exit from the California Interscholastic Federation Wrestling Championships still fresh in his mouth, Manteca wrestler and McNair High sophomore Aaron Ceballos made the first step towards a comeback, exploding through an elite field at the California Junior Greco-Roman Championships at Temecula Valley High on Friday, May 2, with first place honors and a second straight qualification for the Team California’s Greco dual squad.

            Ceballos lost his shot at a state medal when he hyper-extended both back ligaments of his knee at the state tournament on February 29, and after wrestling just one match was forced to watch a wrestler he had beaten (Turlock’s Fabian Garcia) work through the field to finish with a medal.

            Two months later Ceballos made the trip to Temecula for another chance to wrestle with the state’s best, and this time his knee couldn’t hold him back.

            “I felt intensity at just hearing the word ‘state’ again,” Ceballos said. “To be at another state tournament made me feel that I had to place or win it.”

The younger brother of former Manteca High greats Effren and Elizar Ceballos took on the tougher half of a 125-pound bracket with four consecutive wins, the last a 7-0, 5-0 victory over former high school state medalist, Chad Thornack of San Jacinto.

            Thornack was one of several top grapplers in the 125 division, and placed 7th at 103 pounds in the 2007 CIF championships. He was ranked 28th among all juniors in the nation by USA Wrestling Magazine before slipping from his Southern Section bracket prior to the 2008 state tournament.

            Thornack won the 2008 Freestyle State Tournament, and was expected to fare the same in Greco-Roman competition considering he beat Ceballos in 7-6, 6-5, 3-2 scores at the same tournament in 2007.

            “I knew how he was going to come at me and I knew I had to be real agressive,” Ceballos said. “I think I am a better Greco wrestler than in our last match.”

            Prior to Ceballos’ win over Thornack, he topped Dylan Barrales of Temecula Valley and Michael Vargas of Buena Park, both high school state qualifiers. Barrales, who finished fifth among the tough field, was 2-2 in Ceballos’ 112-pound CIF state bracket in 2008. Vargas was a 2007 state qualifier, and finished third at Greco State.

            Between Thornack, Vargas, Barrales and 2007 California Greco Dual Team member Nathan Larson (4th this year), it wasn’t an easy re-entry back to the wrestling scene for Ceballos.

            “I guess I had to prove myself a little bit more this time to show that I am one of the best in California and I am still going to be back next year, and come back harder than ever,” Ceballos said.

            The Mantecan is certain to see plenty of action this off-season, and the toughest of it will come June 30 through July 4 at the Greco Junior National Team Duals in Oklahoma City. He is also shooting for a medal at the Freestyle and Greco Nationals later in July.

            The deep schedule is just training for another shot at the CIF postseason.