Valhalla, With 3 Wrestlers in Semifinals, in 2nd Place

The CIF State wrestling championships figured to be a battle between four-time champion Clovis and top-ranked Poway.

In the early-round matches Friday at the University of the Pacific’s Spanos Center, Clovis lived up to its billing. But Poway slipped, and Valhalla fared better than expected.

Clovis, winner of State titles in 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1990, led Valhalla, 53 1/2-46. Poway was third with 35 points.

Clovis and Valhalla each qualified three wrestlers for today’s semifinals. Poway had two qualify.

Patrick Mack at 119 pounds, Jason Hendrick (160) and Russ Magoffin (171) qualified for the semifinals.

For Poway, Isaal Romberg (152) and Corey Farkas (heavyweight) advanced.

For Clovis, Jimmy Aguirre is trying for his third consecutive state title. He won at 105 pounds as a sophomore, 119 pounds last year and is wrestling at 125 pounds this season.

Friday, he overpowered Dennis Cummings of Cabrillo, 7-0, in the quarterfinals to advance. Aguirre figures to meet Detran Gant of Fresno Roosevelt, last year’s 112-pound champion, in today’s final. Gant has beaten Aguirre three times in five meetings this season, including the Central Section final last week. Two other defending champions also advanced to the semifinals.

Tony Okada of Anaheim Savanna, who won the 132-pound title last year, faces Tim Yoshitake of Schurr in the 135-pound semifinal today. Josh Gormley of West Torrance, the State heavyweight champion in 1990, advanced to meet Darin Preisendorf of American.