BAKERSFIELD, CA. – Senior Frank Herrera of Huntington Park High made history two weeks ago as he became the Spartan’s first-ever state qualifier by winning the Los Angeles City Section Championship at 220-pounds.

He had high hopes of being a bracket buster and claiming the top spot at the California state tournament. However, that was not to be as Herrera bow down of the tournament after losing 11-3 to the Central Coast Section Champion Josh Cortez of Gilroy High in the round of 16.

Herrera did manage to upset # 11 Eric Hayward (Vacaville) 9-3 and then defeated the No. 4 kid from the Central Section Hunter Weimer (Monache) 5-1 to go 2-2 in the tournament.

Injuries kept him from competing throughout the regular season as he only competed in a few dual-meets and won the Downey 32-man tournament early in December.

By going 2-2 at the tough state tournament, Herrera once again made history for the Spartans as he won a pair of matches. After session II, only Jairo Rivera (Birmingham) is the last standing wrestler from the L.A. Section in the boy’s tournament.

Herrera will spend a couple of months in California before embarking on his journey of walking-on the Penn State wrestling team and compete for Coach Cael Sanderson. The future looks bright for the kid from the tough streets of Huntington Park.