Coyotes back on top in CMAC

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune

Madera’s Alex Linares puts his Bullard 182-pound opponent on his back early in the first period of Wednesday’s dual meet. Linares recorded a pin just 35 seconds into his match to help lead the Coyotes to the County/Metro Athletic Conference championship.

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For the 10th time in school history, the Madera Coyotes wrestling team are champions of the County/Metro Athletic Conference.

The Coyotes defeated Bullard-Fresno, 61-18, on Wednesday to finish undefeated in the CMAC duals to capture their first championship since 2019

Head coach Joe Romine has been at the helm of each one of those titles and is happy to be back.

“Anytime you drop below your expectations, there’s some doubting involved,” he said. “Probably more self-doubt than anything else. Just to come back and get the win is great. Our coaches do a great job. So much credit needs to go to them. I’m just driving the bus. They work so hard.”

In the 10 contested Coyote victories, eight finished by pin with five in the first period before one of the biggest crowds in Joe Flores Gym for wrestling in a few years.

“We were really hoping the kids weren’t going to succumb to all the crowd and atmosphere tonight,” Romine said. “They rose to it. That was very pleasing. Sometimes emotion can go either way.”

Although the Coyotes won by pin in eight matches, Romine pointed to one of the two wins that wasn’t decided by a pin to be a crucial victory. Julio Garcia moved up a weight class to pick up a 7-5 decision at 162 pounds.