SOUTHERN SECTION MASTERS WRESTLING : Canyon’s Padgett Among Favorites to Reach State Meet

Matt Padgett of Canyon High School, undefeated and top-ranked in the Southern Section at 160 pounds, is among the favorites at the Masters Meet at 9:30 a.m. today at Fountain Valley High. The top seven wrestlers in each of the 13 weight divisions qualify for the CIF State championships next Friday and Saturday at the University of the Pacific in Stockton.

Padgett comes into today’s meet with a record of 43-0 with 37 pins. Despite suffering from a sore knee for the last three weeks, he won the 160-pound title at the section 4-A finals and led Canyon to the team title.

Huntington Beach, which finished second to Canyon last week, had three champions--Eric Escobedo at 171, Eric Williams at 189 and Mike Bolster at heavyweight.

Bolster and Robert Vasquez of Westminster have been waging an ongoing battle. Vasquez defeated Bolster, 4-2, in overtime at the Sunset League championship meet. But Bolster beat Vasquez, 2-0, at the 4-A meet.

Four other section champions to watch:

--Zac Tapia of San Clemente and Greg Smith of Calvary Chapel at 130 pounds. Tapia won the 4-A title and Smith won the 1-A for the second consecutive season.

--Brad Belanger of Savanna at 135 pounds, who won the 3-A championships.

--Willie Green of Savanna, who won the 3-A heavyweight title. Green suffered a strained leg muscle at the end of his match, but Coach Tom Caspari didn’t think it would bother the senior today.