Cooper Keeps Firm Grip on Opponents to Win Title

In wrestling, a sport teeming with committed athletes, Canyon High School Coach Gary Bowden says Zach Cooper stands out.

“He’s so far above the average wrestler in his work ethic,” Bowden said. “He’s so conscientious. He knows what he has to do to win and he does it.”

Saturday, he did it again. Cooper, The Times’ Athlete of the Week, won his second consecutive state championship by defeating Brad Bell of Clovis West, 11-4, in the 191-pound final at the University of the Pacific in Stockton.

Cooper has compiled a 96-0 record since losing two years ago in the quarterfinals of the state tournament. Bowden said he consulted other Orange County coaches and they determined that no county wrestler had ever gone through two undefeated state championship seasons.

“If you look at our record book, I haven’t set any records for the most takedowns or the most pins,” Cooper said. “But I always seem to win.”

Last year in the state tournament, Cooper was put on his back twice in the quarterfinals and trailed, 7-1, but rallied to win in overtime. He also won the final in overtime. But this season, Cooper didn’t have a similarly difficult championship struggle, Bowden said.

“He controlled all five matches,” Bowden said. “That’s his strongest trait as a wrestler--he controls his matches. He’s almost like a conductor orchestrating.”

Watching Cooper’s performance were representatives from about 20 of the colleges that are recruiting him, Bowden said. Cooper, who has a grade-point average over 4.0, is being pursued by such schools as Harvard, Brown, Yale, Stanford, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Cal State Fullerton and UC Davis.

“I definitely felt the pressure before the final,” Cooper said. “I just kept telling myself that it’s just another match. By the time the match was over I almost forgot it was the final of the state championships.”

TOP PERFORMERS

David Boyle of Mater Dei scored a career-high 32 points as Mater Dei defeated Loyola, 83-57, for the Southern Section 5-A championship Saturday night.

Agustin Heredia scored all five of Estancia’s points in overtime as the Eagles defeated Servite, 51-49, for the 3-AA championship Wednesday. Heredia scored a game-high 32 points.

Rob Langenwalter (126 pounds) of Esperanza, Savanna’s Tony Okada (132) and Mater Dei’s Rick Monge (145) each won a state wrestling title Saturday.

Kevin Rowe, El Toro goalkeeper, had two shutouts last week as the Chargers defeated Redlands, 1-0, in the semifinals Tuesday and Cerritos, 2-0, in the finals Saturday to win the 3-A soccer championship.

Zach Cooper

Canyon High School

* Position: Wrestler

* Height, Weight, Class: 6-1 1/2, 191, Senior

* Last Week: Cooper won his second consecutive state wrestling championship Saturday at the University of the Pacific.

* Season: Cooper was 48-0 for the second consecutive season.