State Wrestling Championships : Phillips and Schultz Lead Orange County Contingent

By providing nearly a third of the Southern Section’s participants, Orange County high schools figure to do well in the two-day state wrestling tournament beginning today in Stockton.

Of the 78 Southern Section wrestlers who will compete in 13 weight divisions, 25 are from Orange County.

The two-day tournament begins with preliminary rounds starting at 10 a.m. in the University of the Pacific’s Spanos Center.

Among those given the best chance to win state championships are two competitors who did not win their weight divisions at last week’s Masters qualifying meet.

Mike Phillips (145) of Capistrano Valley is a defending state champion but had to forfeit in the Masters final after he fell hard on his head in a semifinal match.

Coach Jeff Roberts said Phillips, who suffered from stiffness in his neck, had X-rays taken after the meet, but no damage was found.

“I think he’ll be just fine,” Roberts said.

Canyon’s Bryon Schultz (119) lost his first match of the season when he was defeated by Nogales’ Jeff Maes in the Masters final.

Gary Bowden, Canyon coach, said the loss might help Schultz in the state meet.

“I’ve seen some bad things happen to kids who enter the state tournament undefeated,” he said.

Canyon had four wrestlers qualify for the state tournament, and Capistrano Valley and Valencia each placed three.

Valencia’s Fred Jenkins (175) looked very strong in winning the Masters meet and is ranked No. 1 at his weight.

Just as impressive was Woodbridge’s Heath Sims (132), who won the tournament with relative ease.