Joey Gillis Hungry for State Title

You can’t blame Joey Gillis for being hungry. After all, the junior from Savanna High School is the first wrestler in the school’s history to qualify for the State tournament.

But when the three-time Orange League champion disposed of two opponents Friday to advance to the semifinals of the State meet at the University of Pacific, it turned out that victories aren’t the only thing on the junior’s menu.

Indeed, there is a lot more at steak than school pride.

“I can’t wait to chow down,” said Gillis, who will meet Blu Taylor of Sacramento’s El Camino in this morning’s 11:30 semifinal round. “I have trouble with my weight and I haven’t eaten in like two days. Just nibbling here and there. But you wait, once I win State, I may never stop eating until next season.’

Gillis, a junior, dominated David Rosaria, in their quarterfinal match, cruising to a 9-3 victory. It was an impressive performance against a quality wrestler, one who took home the State title last year at 145 pounds.

“Joey is wrestling very well right now,” Coach Dana Coleman said. “He’s got momentum and he’s confident. That’s gotta help.’

One thing that didn’t help Fountain Valley’s Trent Kenney was a questionable call that eventually turned into an 8-6 defeat at the hands of Mike Martinez of Yerba Buena. Trailing, 8-6, with 30 seconds remaining, Kenney scored what appeared to be a two-point near fall, but the referee did not award the points. Kenney’s only consolation was the fact that he scored the day’s quickest pin, stunning Cary Fike of Birmingham in 19 seconds.

One wrestler with no regrets was Tim Ige of Capistrano Valley, who improved his record to 47-1, and looks like the favorite in the 132-pound class.

Ige had knee surgery at the start of the season and has finally licked an understandable trepidation.

“I was scared before Christmas,” he said. “You think about the leg and are afraid you’ll hurt it again. That’s when I lost my only match. But I had a chance to rest and now I feel super. I want State.”

Ed Ruiz of Marina is still alive in the 126-pound class, although he’ll have to take on Laurence Jackson of Santa Monica if he reaches the final. Last week in the Masters, Jackson, who has won 81 in a row, beat Ruiz handily.

Chris Wright of Loara, the 4-A champion, was upset in the second round, losing to Frank Smith of Homestead, 8-4.

El Dorado’s Steve Lawson, involved in an auto accident earlier in the week, rolled through his first match, but was upset in the quarterfinals, losing to Brent Kranig of Christian Brothers, 6-4.