Wrestling: Predictions for the Division I duals on Saturday

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I’m really going out on a limb here ...

Temecula Valley will win the Southern Section Division I dual meet championships Saturday at Victor Valley College.

I know, I know. What could I be thinking? The Golden Bears have only won the thing five years in a row and 10 of the last 13. And they’ve only been the top-ranked team in both the Division I and Southern Section polls all season, as well as the highest-ranked Southern Section team in the state rankings.

OK, seriously. Who is going to match up with these guys? They’ve got four wrestlers ranked in the state, including top-ranked Jake Meredith at 171 (he’s 34-1 this season), and two others who were previously ranked in the state. All six of those guys are ranked in the Southern Section, including top-ranked Erik Reyes at 103, second-ranked Patrick Martinez at 160 and second-ranked Edvardo Marquez at heavyweight.

Plus, Meredith is a returning Masters champion and state placer (7th), and Reyes, Dylan Barrales at 112 and Mario Decaro at 119 were also state qualifiers last year. And Coach Arnold Alpert told me they’ve got some unranked guys back from injuries that should make them even stronger.

As far as who will be facing the Golden Bears in the finals, it appears to be a toss-up between second-seeded Northview and third-seeded Hesperia. Each has several ranked wrestlers, with only two in the same weight class (Andrew Collins of Hesperia and Frank Martinez of Northview at 130). If the seedings hold up and the teams meet in the semifinals, I predict a one- or two-point victory for Northview.

Such a result in the semifinals would create a rematch of last year’s finals, which Temecula Valley won, 40-13. I don’t think it will be as lopsided this time around, but the Golden Bears will keep their streak alive, say, 38-25.

-- Chuck Schilken