The Preps / Pat Cannon : Once the Wrestling Was Finished, the Celebrating Started

Celebrations lasted into the wee hours at Stockton Saturday night with champions and medal winners reliving their moments in the spotlight at the conclusion of the State wrestling championships.

Two of the more cerebral revelers were South Hills’ Coach Fernando Venegas and his prize pupil, David Cabral, the second-place finisher in the 112-pound division.

At 2 a.m., the two stood in the middle of a Ramada Inn hallway, still engaged in an animated conversation, discussing takedowns, near falls and pins. Their eyes were bright with joy, the respect and affection between the young man and his coach evident.

It was a moment to cherish after a weekend of grunts and groans. Norman Rockwell would have painted it.

Although his athletes emerged from the tournament unscathed, Elsinore Coach Randy Campbell flew home Sunday with an impressive welt above his right eye.

It seems that Campbell was engaged in a late-night, two-on-one wrestling match against Mark Abbott, who took fifth in the 105-pound class, and 154-pounder Mark Dry.

During the good-natured fracas, Dry and Campbell bumped heads, resulting in what should be a spectacular shiner. However bright, it’s unlikely that its eventual hue will match the school colors of red and white.

State 154-pound champ Scott Schumm of Edgewood is being recruited by Oklahoma State, Brigham Young and Wisconsin. But according to his coach, Ray Rodi, the choices might have narrowed after temperatures dropped into the high 30s Friday night.

“Scott’s mom is from Wisconsin and I think sentimentally she’d like him to go there,” Rodi said. “But I don’t know. Friday, we were walking back from the car to the hotel and Scott says, ‘Geez, it’s cold out here.’

“I turned to him and said, ‘You don’t know what cold is until you’ve been in the Midwest.’ “Scott thought for a second and said, ‘You know maybe I should start thinking more about Oklahoma State.’ ”

Last add wrestling: In 10 years of covering prep sports in two states, I have never seen a tournament more efficiently run. Kudos to tournament director Greg Zavala. . . . More than 300 wrestlers competed, but Cyndi Lauper never showed up. . . . Most dynamic performer had to be Miller Aupiu of Channel Islands. The Samoan won the 175-pound title, and the crowd’s heart with his native dress and generally bellicose demeanor. . . . Most superstitious wrestlers had to be Guillermo Maldanado of Hollister and Craig Ivie of Atascadero. Each carried a stuffed animal to matside. Maldanado’s resembled a gremlin, Ivie’s was a gorilla complete with headgear. . . . Over two days, 10 referees worked more than 80 matches each. . . . Best T-Shirt: “It is better to have wrestled and lost, than play basketball.”

While Mater Dei’s All-American Tom Lewis and his teammates were taking care of business on the court, the team had its locker room broken into during a 5-A quarterfinal game against Compton at Compton College Friday night. Originally, Coach Gary McKnight estimated that the value of the stolen goods was about $300.

That was optimistic. McKnight said Sunday that it turned out to be closer to $1,400. Thieves got away with five new gym bags ($30 apiece), four sets of uniforms ($100 apiece), several watches--one valued at $500--a radio, some clothes and some cash.

There were additional problems for Mater Dei, which beat Compton, 75-39. On the way to the team bus afterward, Monarch reserve Frank Madrigal was punched in the face by a fan. Several Compton administrators prevented a fight, and the team left without further incident.

The Southern Section’s soccer playoffs move into the semifinal round today with 14 matches taking place at various sites.

In the boys’ 4-A division, Palos Verdes is hot, having knocked off No. 1-seeded Oxnard last Friday. Palos Verdes won, 2-1, by virtue of penalty kicks after two overtimes. The Sea Kings play host to Foothill this afternoon at 3 p.m.

The girls 3-A division looks like a mini version of the Marmonte League since Simi Valley, Royal and Camarillo are still alive. La Quinta (14-2-1) will try to prevent an All-Marmonte final when the Aztecs journey to Camarillo today. Championship matches will be held Friday and Saturday at Gahr High School.