Matilda Torres High School’s first-ever Central Section champion, wrestler Aiden Salas, has qualified for the Marine Corps National Championships in July.
“It’s the biggest high school tournament in the country,” said his father, Alex.
Salas will be wrestling at 113 pounds in the Cadet Division for freshmen and sophomores.
“The tournament is only for high school wrestlers,” Alex said.
Last season, Salas wrestled for the national team for duals. The Nationals is the more prestigious tournament he has qualified for individually.
“He is the only Madera kid that qualified for the tournament,” Alex said. “You qualify for the tournament by placing in the top four in the Western Regional Tournament, top three in freestyle state or top three in greco state. He qualified in greco with a third place finish, but he will be wrestling in both greco and freestyle at Fargo.”
The top two in both greco and freestyle qualify for the world team where the wrestlers will travel and represent the U.S.A.
“We’re hoping to get a college scholarship one day. So far, he’s going in the right direction,” Alex said.
The tournament will begin on July 17 in Fargo, North Dakota.
In the meantime, Alex and his family are working to raise funds to make sure Aiden can get there. They have a GoFundMe (help-get-aiden-to-fargo) set up to raise the minimal amount.
“I’m trying to get the bare minimum for his registration, travel and hotel room. It’s $2,100 even,” Alex said. “I plan on traveling with him.”
In addition to the GoFundMe, Alex has a couple of fundraisers set up.
He will host a raffle where the grand prize is a pair of San Francisco Giants baseball tickets, in addition to an ice chest filled with goodies to make for a good tailgate. Tickets are $20 each.
Another fundraiser will be chile verde burritos on June 17-18. The burritos are $8 each.
“My grandma was a cook at Primavera. She taught me her recipe,” Alex said. “People can text me for orders. I take Venmo, Zelle or cash.”
Alex can be reached via text at 559-660-2711.