STATE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS : Santana’s Reversal of Fortune Has Been Based on Hard Work

Danny Santana of El Modena High School left the wrestling mat at last year’s Southern Section 4-A championship meet knowing what was to come.

There were miles to run, pounds to lift and hours to spend refining his technique.

He had finished sixth, thus losing out on a berth in the Masters Meet. But this was no time to rest. There were goals to attain and time was running out.

Two weeks after the 1989-90 season ended, Santana was working out with the Jets, a free-style wrestling club team in San Clemente. He sought out Heath Sims, a former State champion from Woodbridge High School and now a member of the U.S. World Greco-Roman team, as a practice partner.

When Santana, now a senior, returned to the section championship meet two weeks ago, he brought along a confident attitude. It swelled inside him, telling him he couldn’t be beaten.

How did he know this?

The answers came in the miles he’d run, in the weight he’d lifted. It was all in the preparation.

“Only 1% have that magic dust sprinkled on them,” El Modena Coach Alan Clinton said. “They don’t have to do the work. The other 99% do.”

Santana swept to the 145-pound title at the 4-A meet two weeks ago. Last week he became the first El Modena wrestler to win a Masters Meet title, according to Clinton. Now he’s trying for a clean sweep--the State championship beginning today at University of the Pacific’s Spanos Center in Stockton.

Is this the end of the line for Santana?

For many wrestlers, the State championships are the ultimate goal. Everything else is forgotten in the relentless pursuit of a medal.

Maybe that was Santana’s goal as a member of the Vanguard freshman team. Or even last year as a good but not outstanding wrestler in his first varsity season. And perhaps earlier this season when he was ranked only No. 3 at 145 pounds in Orange County.

But no longer.

“I’ve still got more to do,” he said. “I want to place. Well, I want to take (the title). I’d like to get a scholarship to one of the good (wrestling) schools. I’d like to go to the NCAAs. So, it’s pretty important to do well at State to open up those doors.”

Santana brings a 44-3 record into the State tournament. Along the way, he’s beaten Ronnie Long of Temecula Valley, ranked No. 1 in the State at 145 pounds, Nick Rios of Arroyo in the Masters Meet final and Heda Kuwata of Channel Islands in the 4-A final.

But none of his victories were as inspiring as beating Long in the quarterfinals last week.

“After I beat him, I didn’t think anybody could beat me,” Santana said. “It made a big difference. After I won, I was wrestling on enthusiasm. I didn’t get tired. I was wrestling on adrenaline.”

Santana went on to overpower Rios in the final, 12-5.

This week, he will awaken to see the same computer-printed slogans that have adorned his bedroom walls for so many months.

How bad do you want it? one says.

State champ and beyond, reads another.

“They help me get going,” Santana said. “They remind me every day what I have to do.”

This week, they’ve also reminded him of how far he’s come.

“This has been real special,” he said. “I always thought I’d be a good wrestler. I realize it now that I took (section) and Masters.”

Tournament Notes

The first round begins this morning at 9. Second- and quarterfinal-round matches also are today. Saturday’s semifinals start at 10 a.m. Third-, fifth- and seventh-place matches start at 2 p.m. The championship matches begin at 7 p.m.

Orange County entries:

103 pounds--Mike Dimaano, Kennedy. 112--Quang Huy, Troy. 125--Matt Baker, Katella; Brian Cherest, Sunny Hills; Jamie Lopez, Valencia. 130--Brad Belanger, Savanna; Mark Cody, Anaheim; David Weiner, University. 135--Javier Fernandez, Anaheim; Tony Okada, Savanna.

140--Jason Mitchell, Canyon; Jim Pezina, Savanna. 145--Danny Santana, El Modena. 152--Brian Hernandez, Mater Dei; Alan Holmes, Canyon; Jason Nerio, Esperanza. 160--Josh Gale, Esperanza; Matt Padgett, Canyon. 171--Mike Farris, Santa Margarita; Erik Jacobs, El Modena. Heavyweight-- Adrian Ioja, Garden Grove; Matt Webber, Canyon.