Agoura’s Hoult Shoots for Berth in State Meet : Prep wrestling: Charger senior qualified for Masters tournament despite death of teammate.

If there is such a thing as a sentimental favorite, Agoura High wrestler Todd Hoult probably fits that description as he heads into today’s Southern Section Masters Meet at Fountain Valley High.

Hoult, a senior, battled through his emotions to win the 4-A Division title at 189 pounds after the death of teammate Jason Rouimi eight days ago.

Hoult is a strong candidate to finish among the top six in his weight class and become only the second Charger to qualify for the state championships. Steve Baer, who finished fourth in the state at 112 pounds last year, was Agoura’s first state qualifier.

The state finals are scheduled for next weekend at the University of the Pacific in Stockton.

But perhaps the presence of Hoult, who is 35-3, at the Masters Meet is an accomplishment in itself. Only three days ago, he attended the funeral of Rouimi, who collapsed and died shortly after winning an opening-round match last week at Rio Hondo College.

“I’m not sure if you ever get beyond thinking about (Rouimi’s death),” Agoura Coach Dennis Ritterbush said. “It took Todd a little longer to work through it because he was such a good friend of Jason’s. But Todd’s a tough kid.”

Ritterbush said Thursday that the team had not yet decided whether to wear black patches in memory of Rouimi.

Hoult is among 22 area wrestlers who will compete today. Channel Islands seniors Valo Barajas (112 pounds) and T. R. Merickel (119), who each won 4-A titles last weekend, are expected to become the first Raiders to qualify for the state meet since Merickel’s brother, M. T., did so in 1988. Miller Aupiu, who won the 177-pound division in 1985, is the school’s only state champion.

“I think Valo should win his class pretty handily,” Channel Islands Coach Rob Vieira said.

Barajas is 48-2 and has beaten Rim of the World’s Alex Heitz this season. Heitz finished fifth in the state meet last year. Merickel is 45-2.

Channel Islands’ Heda Kuwata (145), who is 41-5-2, also might win a berth in the state meet. Kuwata won the Marmonte League title and finished second in the 4-A meet.

Competing in the 112-pound division are Newbury Park’s Steve Lee, Oxnard’s Art Pena, Ventura’s Tommy Hernandez and 1-A champion Gilbert Zavala of Quartz Hill.

Newbury Park’s Jeremy Pratt, Rio Mesa’s Phil Moreno, and Ventura’s Eric Dobroth--the 3-A champion--will compete at 140.

The 119-pound division will include Ventura’s John Jimenez and Quartz Hill’s Micah Hale. Quartz Hill’s Joel Hanson and Santa Paula’s Brandon Wright will compete at 145.

Thousand Oaks’ Jack Artman and Harvard’s Robert Pearlstein will compete at 152. Ventura’s Scott Adams, the 3-A champion, and Camarillo’s Jaime Luvanos will be among the 189-pound competitors. Quartz Hill’s Enoch Hale (125) also will compete.