Clovis Edges Valhalla for CIF Wrestling Title

Clovis High won its second consecutive CIF state wrestling championship by the barest of margins Saturday night at the University of the Pacific’s Spanos Center.

Clovis defeated Valhalla, 88 1/2 to 87, in front of a sellout crowd of 6,000. Expected to challenge for the title, top-ranked Poway finished third with 71 points.

It was the fifth title for Clovis since the state meet was first held in 1973. No other school has won more than three.

Leading Valhalla by 5 1/2 points coming into the championship round, Clovis needed a victory from Jimmy Aguirre at 125 pounds to clinch the title. Aguirre defeated Detran Gant of Fresno Roosevelt, 4-2, for his third career title.

“Honestly, the whole match was like a dream,” said Aguirre, who won at 105 pounds as a sophomore and 119 pounds last year. “I still don’t believe it’s over. (A third title) was my goal. I guess it’s time for a new goal.”

Gant, who had beaten Aguirre three times in five matches coming into the match, won the 112-pound title last season. Both are seniors.

Going into the championship round, Valhalla needed Gant to beat Aguirre in order to win the title.

Even when Aguirre won, Valhalla still had a shot. But its three finalists--Patrick Mack (at 119 pounds), Jason Hendrick (160) and Russ Magoffin (171)--had to win.

For a while, things looked good. Mack beat Robert Enriquez of Santa Fe, 3-2, and Hendrick defeated Adimu Madyun of Moreno Valley Canyon Springs, 12-6.

But Scott Silver of Fresno Bullard beat Magoffin, 4-2, giving Clovis the title.

Poway’s Isaac Romberg was pinned by Victor Valley’s Rod Ludington three minutes, 21 seconds into their 152-pound final.

Romberg’s teammate Corey Farkas lost the heavyweight final, 2-1, to Darin Preisendorf of American.

Tony Okada of Anaheim Savanna overpowered Curtis Alkire of Monache in the 135-pound final.

Okada, a nationally ranked judo competitor, won the 132-pound championship at last year’s meet.

Trying for a second consecutive heavyweight title, Josh Gormley of West Torrance was pinned by Darin Preisendorf of American two minutes, 45 seconds into their semifinal match.

Gormley, who will attend Washington on a football scholarship, came back to finish fifth with a 6-2 victory over Tim Ryan of San Marcos.