Buena Pins Title Hopes on Heavyweight Flores

The Buena High wrestling program does not have a long and storied past.

Only four Bulldog wrestlers have ever qualified for the state championship meet and only one--John Smithson--has won a title. And that was in 1976.

Smithson, who won the 115-pound class, is now Buena’s coach. And he thinks the school might be on the verge of championship No. 2.

Adam Flores, a 240-pound heavyweight, finished second in the Southern Section Masters meet last week. He was one of six Ventura County wrestlers to place fifth or better in their weight class and qualify for state championships in Stockton on Friday and Saturday.

Flores lost a 5-3 decision to Rex Vollmer of Capistrano Valley in the Masters final, but that has not dampened Smithson’s enthusiasm for the title chances of his heavyweight.

“It was a close match,” Smithson said of Flores’ tangle with Vollmer. “Adam made a mistake on a reversal and lost. But he’ll come back. He has a good chance of winning.”

Only a week before, Flores had defeated Vollmer, 9-7, in the 3-A Division semifinals. Flores, who came in ranked sixth, then defeated top-ranked Robert Avila of Keppel, 6-1, in the championship.

In the Masters meet, Flores (37-4) pinned his first two opponents, then met Don Young of Hueneme, an old nemesis, in the semifinals.

Young was 2-2 against Flores during the regular season--including an 8-7 victory in the match for the Channel League championship. This loss in particular had bothered Flores because it came only two days after he had defeated Young, 8-4, in a dual meet.

Perhaps it was the revenge factor that made the difference at the Masters meet. If so, it made a big difference. Flores won, 15-0.

Said Smithson: “I couldn’t believe it myself.”

The relationship between Flores and Young is a unique one. Young, who like Flores is a standout football player, has been practicing with Buena this week.

“We try and help each other out,” Smithson said. “At practice, we’re all friends. But on the mat, it gets really competitive.”

Rio Mesa High will send three wrestlers to the state meet.

Robbie Cook placed second in the 129-pound class, losing, 10-1, to Brett Schultz of Anaheim Canyon in the Masters final.

Lupe Beltran defeated Greg White of Torrance, 15-4, for fifth place at 101 pounds. Teammate Tony Flores was pinned by Brian Tomasic in a battle for sixth place, but he still qualified for the state meet in the 194-pound division.

Ali Sabbaghi of Westlake defeated Neil Truax of Arroyo, 5-2, for fifth place in the 141-pound class.