Edison senior pins down state title

What was wrestler Garrett Drucker thinking when he won this year’s state championship?

“I was thinking that four years of training, working hard and giving it my best, paid off,” the Edison High senior said when asked about his champion- ship moment on Saturday in the 135- pound class. “It all was well worth it.”

Chargers Coach Luis Renteria said it is believed that the state title is a first for an Edison wrestler in school history.

“In my mind, I had no doubt that he could do it,” Renteria said. “Garrett just works really hard and wrestles very well. Winning at state just depends on who shows up ready to go.”

Drucker was more than ready for the challenge in a class that had more than 30 athletes grappling for the division state title.

He went 6-0 at the two-day CIF State Wrestling Tournament held at the Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, winning four of his matches on Friday. His final two wins were posted Saturday, the second of those triumphs coming over Elliott Dennis of La Costa Canyon that gave him the state crown.

His brother, Brandon, a member of the Edison wrestling team and 2005 graduate, was there to see Garrett get the state crown.

During the season, Drucker won a CIF title and placed third at the CIF Masters meet on Feb. 25, the same meet that saw Dennis finish second.

As a junior last year, Drucker placed second at CIF and advanced to the CIF Masters meet, but came up one match win short of reaching the state meet.

“It’s an awesome feeling to go out this way,” he said.

Drucker, a four-year letterman, will wrestle one more time when he travels to Virginia Beach, Va., on March 29-April 1 to compete at the 18th annual National High School Seniors Wrestling Championship and Convention.

“He’s had a great career here,” Renteria said. “I’m glad he’s getting the recognition he deserves. He’s always been one of the best in his weight class since the beginning, and last weekend, he showed it by coming out on top.”