ALL-COUNTY TEAMS AND ATHLETES OF THE YEAR : Okada Leaves No One in Doubt: Even His Peers Call Him the Best

It was never easy, though Tony Okada of Savanna High School sure made it look that way.

In his past two wrestling seasons, Okada won 103 matches and lost one. As a junior he won the 132-pound championship at the State meet. As a senior, he won the 135-pound title. He also won consecutive Southern Section 3-A and Masters Meet titles.

Okada is The Times’ Orange County wrestler of the year as much for his pure skill as for his records and championships.

This season seldom was any wrestler more impressive than Okada. Even at the State meet March 1-2 at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Okada was simply the best.

The lopsided scores by which Okada won were just one measure of his talent. He won his first-round match, 20-4, then won, 14-6, recorded a pin at the 4-minute 26-second mark in the quarterfinals, and won his semifinal, 9-2.

By not coasting when he was clearly the better wrestler, Okada proved beyond a reasonable doubt he was the best. By winning handily he never left a chance for debate.

Not that there was any doubt in either his mind or Tom Caspari’s. After the State meet, Caspari, Savanna’s coach, was asked if Okada’s talents had ever surprised him or caused him to re-think the possibilities for his talented wrestler.

“No,” Caspari said. “Because I knew . . . “

And his voice trailed off.

What more needed to be said?

Leave it to Okada, who was always working on new ways to confound and subdue opponents, to make his statements on the wrestling mat.

Early in his championship match against Curtis Alkire of Monache, Okada tried something he’d never done before. And here it was his final high school tournament.

Alkire grabbed hold of Okada from behind and was about to throw him to the mat for a two-point takedown.

Okada seemed to be conceding the points as he tumbled face first toward the mat with Alkire on his back.

But at the last possible moment, Okada tucked his head and rolled into a ball, shooting through Alkire’s legs in the same motion. He popped up behind Alkire, grabbed him and threw him for a two-point takedown.

The sellout crowd of 6,000 roared in appreciation, awe and surprise.

After that, Alkire never had a chance. Okada’s move was the turning point and he went on to a 14-2 victory.

Later, Okada said the move was something “I sort of picked up.”

Said Caspari: “He’s so good he can turn any defensive position into an offensive one very quickly.”

Okada ended his high school career with a four-year mark of 185-15, but the most important victory came after the State meet ended. He was voted the Champion of Champions by his peers.

This season, there was never a doubt.

ALL-COUNTY WRESTLING

FIRST TEAM

Player School Yr. Weight Mike Dimaano Kennedy Sr. 103 Quang Huy Troy Sr. 112 Greg Smith Calvary Chapel So. 119 Matt Baker Katella Sr. 125 David Weiner University Sr. 130 Tony Okada Savanna Sr. 135 Jason Mitchell Canyon Sr. 140 Danny Santana El Modena Sr. 145 Jason Nerio Esperanza Sr. 152 Matt Padgett Canyon Jr. 160 Erik Jacobs El Modena Sr. 171 Chad Irwin Magnolia Sr. 189 Adrian Ioja Garden Grove Jr. Hwt

Player Comment Mike Dimaano State meet qualifier, a 1-A champion Quang Huy State meet qualifier, fourth at 2-A meet Greg Smith Won the 1-A title, Masters qualifier Matt Baker Finished eighth at the State meet David Weiner State meet qualifier, 2-A champion Tony Okada Won State, Masters and 3-A titles Jason Mitchell State meet qualifier Danny Santana Won 4-A and Masters titles, third at State Jason Nerio Finished in fifth place at the State meet Matt Padgett 4-A champion, sixth at State meet Erik Jacobs Eighth at the State meet, sixth at Masters Chad Irwin Third at 3-A finals, Masters qualifier Adrian Ioja Seventh at State meet, second at Masters

Second team: 103--Quan Phan (Katella, Sr.); 112--Jim Provencio (Valencia, Soph.); 119--David Gayer (Canyon, Soph.); 125--Brian Charest (Sunny Hills, Sr.); 130--Brad Belanger (Savanna, Jr.); 135--Javier Fernandez (Anaheim, Sr.); 140--Jim Pezina (Savanna, Sr.); 145--Steve Choe (Sunny Hills, Sr.); 152--Alan Holmes (Canyon, Sr.); 160--Josh Gale (Esperanza, Sr.); 171--Mike Farris (Santa Margarita, Sr.); 189--Todd Stokes (Edison, Sr.); Hwt--Matt Webber (Canyon, Sr.)