Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Ventura

 An hour and a half north of Los Angeles the Pirates of Ventura College had a wrestling program up through the 1993-1994 season. 

Butch Escalante
126 lbs 

Escalante spent two years in the United States Army as a paratrooper after graduating from Hueneme High school before coming to Ventura College.  Competing for the Pirates, Escalante won back to back CCCAA titles in 1975 & 1976 going 75-4 during his two seasons.  He maintained a 3.5 GPA academically as well. 

Later in life he headed a Boys & Girl's Club in Amarillo, Texas. 

Wayne Branstetter

Another graduate of Hueneme High School, Branstetter was seventh at the CCCAA championships in 1970.  He went on to compete for Cal State Chico where he won a Far Western Conference title in 1972 as a junior.  He was injured & unable to compete during the 1972-1973 season.  

He later Coached at Channel Islands High School where he lead his team to back to back fourth place finishes at the state tournament.  He then moved on to Poway High school where he lead his team to an impressive 340 victories against only four losses.  This included 157 dual meets in a row, 31 League Titles & 3 State titles. 

Tim Vaughn
167 lbs 

Vaughn was a two time CCCAA runner-up in 1979 & 1980.  His brother Chris also placed at the CCCAA championships in 1980 with a fifth place finish at 177 lbs. 



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Again a big thank you to Al Fontes for all the information he provided on CCCAA wrestling, to make CCCAA wrestling a part of Gone, Lost & Forgotten.