Wrestling: I’ve got a new favorite ‘Vinny’
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Sorry, Vinnie Barbarino -- you had a nice 30-year run. But after following the Southern Section wrestlers all weekend at the CIF state tournament, I’m going to have to put my support behind the guy who gave the Southland its only state champion, Vinny Pisani.
The senior from El Modena wrapped an amazing postseason run with a 3-1 overtime victory over Kyle West of El Dorado Hills Oak Ridge in the 135-pound finals. Pisani entered the tournament at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield ranked third in the state, right behind No. 2 West.
Pisani finished the state meet with one pin, one major decision and three decisions; he had two technical falls, one major decision, one decision and one default at the Southern Section Masters meet and two pins, one technical fall and two major decisions at the Central Division meet, where he was chosen the lower-weight MVP. He finished the season with a record of 50-2.
San Dimas senior Angel Garcia at 125 and Temecula Valley senior Jake Meredith at 171 were state runners-up. A total of 30 Southland wrestlers (all from the Southern Section) placed in the top eight. Temecula Valley, Santa Ana Calvary Chapel and Hesperia each had three place-winners, and Temecula Valley came in 10th place and was the highest placing local team. Clovis won the team title.
We have the results posted on our preps highlights page. And just to be nice, I will pull out all the Southern Section place-winners and post them in a separate blog in just a minute.
-- Chuck Schilken, guest blogger
-- Image from jtplanet.freewebspace.com.