League Tournaments to Settle Outcome of Races in Wrestling

The regular season winds down for Valley-area wrestling teams in the Southern Section on Saturday when the Marmonte, San Fernando Valley, Frontier, Del Rey and Channel leagues hold their league tournaments.

The league championships are decided by a combination of tournament results, which account for half, and league dual meet standings.

A league-by-league analysis:

MARMONTE LEAGUE

Westlake High clinched the league title with a victory over Camarillo on Wednesday and will be the favorite in the tournament at Camarillo.

Billy Hunter and Neil Mason, a transfer from Agoura, lead the Warriors in the 175- and 145-pound classes, respectively.

Farzin Daneshnia (112), Brad Miya (119), Shawn Valance (138), Darrell Valance (165) and Dave Schumm (191) also could contend for league titles.

Newbury Park is the only league team to beat Westlake.

The Panthers boast Chris Kilbane, the defending 4-A Division champion at 145 pounds who is 34-0 at 154 pounds this season. Kevin Mabry (105) and Jeff Jay (heavyweight) also will be forces.

Perennial power Channel Islands has a team that offers such contenders as T. R. Merickel (98), Val Barajas (105), Chris Corpuz (112), M. T. Merickel (132) and Chris Whitmore (191).

Others who could make an impact include Robin Song (105), William Cardinos (126), Bryan Ha (138) and Charlie Verhoven (154) of Simi Valley; Jim James (119) and Zach Achen (165) of Camarillo; and Sean Toner (165) of Thousand Oaks.

“Westlake has the best chance,” Newbury Park Coach Marty Maciel said. “They have a real good tournament team.”

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY LEAGUE

Harvard finished 4-0 in league dual meets and will be the team to beat Saturday at Chaminade.

“We have at least one good wrestler in every weight class,” Harvard Coach Lew Roberts said. “I’d like to see a lot of champions, but I feel it will be very close.”

At 126 pounds for the Saracens, senior John Lee was undefeated in league matches and 21-3 overall. Robert Rhodes (18-0 at 154), Kevin Newman (28-3 at 175) and Rick Farrell (15-6 at 191) are keys to Harvard’s title hopes.

Rhodes and Newman probably will face Chaminade wrestlers who have beaten them in the past. Justin Stark beat Newman last season and Felix Goodson twice defeated Rhodes last year.

Alemany features Marc Brazo (145) and defending league champions Chris Carmona (119) and Adam Wardlow (132).

FRONTIER LEAGUE

In one year, Fillmore went from a winless league season to a dual-meet league championship. The likes of Jaime Valdez (heavyweight) and Jeremy Hernandez (112) make the Flashes a good bet to also win the tournament, which will be at Santa Paula.

Paul Gutierrez (126) leads Moorpark, and Steve Baer (105), Mike Matthes (heavyweight), Brian Bengelsdorf (138) and Adam Kuklin (126) could make contenders of a young Agoura team.

CHANNEL LEAGUE

Rio Mesa has perhaps its best shot ever at dethroning Dos Pueblos, which has won or shared 13 consecutive league championships.

Robby Cook (132), Wyatt Anderson (145) and Tony Flores (191) are among the Spartans’ outstanding wrestlers.

DEL REY LEAGUE

Fourth-place Crespi hopes to upset Bishop Amat, which was undefeated in league dual meets.