PREP REVIEW : Tony Okada Is a Standout in Wrestling, but He Gets His Kicks From Judo

Tony Okada has frustrated many wrestlers during his undefeated season at Savanna High School. But his opponents might be even more discouraged if they knew something else about Okada, a 132-pound junior.

Wrestling might be Okada’s second-best sport.

His favorite pursuit is judo. Okada, 17, already is considered one of the sport’s top performers. He competes at the senior level, which is open to competitors of any age, and often beats older and stronger opponents.

“In wrestling, he’s a kid,” said Ted Okada, Tony’s father. “In judo, he competes as a senior.”

Tony Okada began practicing judo at 5, and already has some impressive accomplishments. He won a silver medal in the 1987 Junior Pan-American Games in Mexico City, and a bronze at the 1989 games in Ecuador at the 132-pound division. In November 1989, he placed fifth at the U.S. Open in Colorado Springs.

“People say, ‘He’s a good wrestler,’ ” Ted Okada said. “But they have no idea how much time he puts into both sports. He does judo and wrestling year-round.

“He works out three hours after school for wrestling, comes home and does a little studying and goes to judo for two more hours. I told him he can relax during the wrestling season, but he has goals in judo.”

Okada is 46-0 wrestling this season. Saturday, he won the 132-pound title at the Southern Section Masters tournament and qualified for this weekend’s state tournament at the University of Pacific.

Last year, he was 41-6 and placed fifth in the 126-pound class at state.

“He’s a well-rounded, complete wrestler,” Savanna Coach Tom Caspari said. “He has some quickness, some decent strength. He’s so well-rounded, it’s hard to pick out any one area.”

Although judo is his favorite, wrestling probably will be his route to college. The Okadas said they know of only two colleges, San Jose State and Fresno State, with scholarships for judo, so Tony likely will wrestle in college. He will, however, continue to compete in judo.

“Judo is not just a sport,” said Carol Okada, Tony’s mother. “The idea of judo is a lot of mind discipline. I think it gives Tony the determination to go beyond what is the minimum, to go for the most he can.”

Tony Okada is prepared to do that to accomplish his loftiest goal. “The 1992 Olympics,” he said. “The gold.”

Super Cooper: Is it possible to win four matches and a wrestling championship without working up a sweat? Canyon’s Zach Cooper, who has won 91 consecutive matches, might have done so at the Masters meet Saturday.

En route to his championship at 191 pounds, Cooper pinned his first opponent in 45 seconds, won a match by default, pinned his next opponent in a minute, and won the title with a pin 1:33 into the second period of the final match.

Cooper made short work of his opponents despite battling effects from the flu last week.

“He’s been sick, but nobody knew it,” Canyon Coach Gary Bowden said. “He wrestles the same.”

Winning ways: The Brea-Olinda girls’ basketball team won its 51st consecutive game Saturday night, 72-43 over Alemany, but Brea has a ways to go before setting any national or Southern Section victory-streak records.

Brea-Olinda’s 51 victories rank second in the Southern Section to Riverside Poly’s streak of 84 set from 1978-82. The national record of 218 was set by Baskin, La., from 1947-53.

Servite center Steve Marusich’s style of shooting free throws is unusual but effective.

Marusich, a 6-foot-7 senior, bends his knees, cocks his arm and concentrates for several seconds--all fundamentally sound moves. But then he shoots using a jump shot.

Marusich said the style has “just developed over the years” and that his coaches haven’t tried to change it.

“I guess they figure if it goes in, don’t change it,” Marusich said.

No one will be altering the style soon. Marusich, who makes 75% of his free throws, made 13 of 13 in a 74-60 3-AA semifinal victory over Culver City Friday.

The South Coast League is holding a private party of sorts in the girls’ 4-A division soccer playoffs. Three league teams--Mission Viejo, Dana Hills and El Toro--will play in the semifinals Tuesday.

Mission Viejo (19-3-3) meets Dana Hills (21-3-1) and El Toro (19-3-3) plays South Torrance.

Another South Coast League team, Capistrano Valley, the defending 4-A champion, lost in the second round to Upland, 2-1.

The secret’s out: Santa Margarita girls’ basketball Coach Jeff Seckman on Eagle guard Kristen Mulligan before Saturday’s 2-AA semifinal against Santa Ynez:

“If they triple-team Kristen, we’re in trouble. But if they don’t, we’ll win.”

Mulligan, a sophomore, entered the game averaging 24 points a game. She scored 26 against Santa Ynez.

However, Santa Ynez guard Denicia Dommeyer, a seldom-used reserve, held Mulligan scoreless during the first 3:46 of the fourth quarter. Santa Ynez scored 12 consecutive points to break a 28-28 tie and went on to win, 54-43.

“Someone finally figured out how to beat us, guard Kristen,” Seckman said. “But don’t tell anybody in Orange County about it.”

Talks full of pep: Bob Becker, Rancho Alamitos girls’ basketball coach, must be a master of the pregame pep talk. The Vaqueros, who will meet Costa Mesa in the 3-A finals Wednesday, have jumped to big leads in their three playoff victories.

Rancho Alamitos led, 24-4, en route to defeating St. Paul, 70-39, in a second-round game. In an 80-56 victory over La Canada in the quarterfinals, Rancho Alamitos led, 9-0, and 22-8. The Vaqueros had a 17-0 lead before beating San Dimas, 76-50, in the semifinals Saturday.