HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING ROUNDUP : Channel Islands Wraps Up 3rd Place

Valo Barajas (112 pounds), T. R. Merickel (119) and Heda Kuwata (145) went undefeated in five matches to garner championships in their respective weight classes while leading Channel Islands High to a third-place finish in the Morro Bay wrestling tournament Saturday at Morro Bay High.

It was the fourth tournament championship of the season for Barajas, who improved his record to 38-2.

Forty-three schools competed in the tournament, which traditionally attracts many of the state’s top teams.

Central Section Roosevelt won the meet with 142 points. Channel Islands had 129.

Harvard Invitational--Vince Alvarez (125) and Jim Loosbrock (140) each won an individual title to lead Moorpark to the team title with 160 1/2 points. Canoga Park’s Keith Jardine (heavyweight), Mario Acosta (112) and Mike Irani (171) each won a title to lead the Hunters to second place with 150 points.

Harvard’s Won-Seok Jo (130) and Faith Baptist’s John Tuan (135) also won titles. The Harvard squad, depleted by injuries, finished third with 145 1/2 points.