Wrestling: They’re the top two Southern Section teams for a reason

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At this point in the wrestling season, a team’s main goal is to advance individual wrestlers as far as they can go into the postseason. Still, it’s hard not to be impressed with the team accomplishments of Temecula Valley and Laguna Hills after last weekend’s Southern Section divisional tournaments -- the number of individuals those teams advanced to this weekend’s Southern Section Masters tournament at Carter is astounding.

Temecula Valley brought 13 wrestlers to the Inland Division championships -- and sent all 13 on to Masters. That just blows my mind.

Of course, the Golden Bears have been the team to beat all season, top-ranked in the Southern Section and top 10 in the state. But we’re talking about a tournament with almost 50 teams participating -- to have every wrestler place in the top five of their weight classes, that’s just crazy.

The Golden Bears had five champions -- lower-weight MVP Eric Reyes at 103, Dylan Barralas at 112, Mario Decaro at 140, Patrick Martinez at 160 and Jake Meredith at 171 -- and a pair of third-place finishers in Javier Hernandez at 215 and Eduardo Marquez at heavyweight.

Northern Division champion Laguna Hills, the Southern Section’s second-ranked team, kept 12 wrestlers in postseason conmpetition. The Hawks had four individual champions -- lower-weight MVP Juan Jaime at 103, Mitch Newcomer at 140, Brandon Roell at 145 and John Hayes at 215 -- and a trio of runners-up in Ian Frank at 119, Stephen Mills at 152 and Abel Ramirez at heavyweight. Once again, very, very impressive.

For those of you keeping score at home, Southern Division champion San Clemente, Coastal Division champion North Torrance and Eastern Division champion Northview each advanced nine wrestlers. Coastal Division runner-up South Hills is sending eight wrestlers to Masters, while Central Division champion El Dorado and Northern Division runner-up Atascadero each qualified seven.

-- Chuck Schilken, guest blogger

-- Image from www.wrestlingsbest.com.