Albert Lee Beats Another Kenney

When it comes to the Kenneys of Fountain Valley, Canyon High School senior Albert Lee doesn’t play any favorites.

Last year in the 141-pound final of the Canyon Tournament, Lee decisioned Trent Kenney, 10-6.

Saturday night, in the 135-pound final of the prestigious Fountain Valley Five Counties Tournament, Lee doubled his pleasure, outpointing Trent’s twin brother, Troy, scoring a 7-3 victory.

Lee, who improved his record to 25-0, credited a pep talk from his father for his dominating performance.

“My dad (Sang Lee) just told me to get more aggressive,” Lee said. “So I just kept shooting at his legs, hoping to take him down and it worked.’

The top-seeded Lee also employed a rather unorthodox style in the down position, tucking his feet underneath his body, rather than extending them. That bit of strategy came courtesy of his coach, Gary Bowden.

“When I was wrestling, as I got older I learned to tuck the ankles away,” Bowden said. “Otherwise they’d (his opponents) break them off and beat you to death with them.’

Bowden was understandably elated with his wrestler’s performance in one of the toughest tournaments in the state. Indeed, he was already hoping to book another match for Lee.

“Geez, if they’ve (Kenneys) got any cousins out there or something, bring them in,” he said with a laugh. “Albert will wrestle them, too.”

Trent Kenney, like his brother, wrestled extremely well, Saturday but lost in the 141-pound class to Mark Gerardi of San Diego’s Valhalla, 8-3.

Joining Lee in the winner’s circle were 157-pound Chris Wright of Loara who decisioned Todd Tomazik of El Dorado, 8-3; Mike Lewis (168) of Western, who punished Mark Reimers of Edgewood, 13-5, and Steve Lawson (178) of El Dorado, who ran his record to 25-1 when he decisioned Craig Hill of Monanche, 12-3. Wright, a junior, who also starred in football, led Loara to a excellent third-place finish in the team competition.

Perennial Northern California power Clovis served notice on cross-town rival Clovis West, the two-time defending State champion, that it is the favorite to win this year’s title which will be decided the first weekend in March at the University of the Pacific.

Clovis rolled up 152 1/2 points, finishing well ahead of second-place Oceana, which totaled 104 1/2, edging Loara with 102 1/2.

Fountain Valley finished seventh with 90 points.