PREP WRESTLING : Adams Attains Goal, Advances to State Meet

Scott Adams of Ventura High saw it as redemption, even though he didn’t meet the wrestler who ended his undefeated season in the Southern Section 3-A championships last week.

“I was in serious depression for about two days after that,” Adams said.

A victory in the 189-pound division and a berth in this week’s state meet brought Adams out of his funk Saturday in the Masters meet at Fountain Valley High.

Adams rolled to his title by defeating Javier Mejia of Canyon Springs, 8-2. He had hoped to face Art Suarez of Covina, who pinned him in the 3-A final last Saturday, but Mejia defeated Suarez, 14-7, in the semifinals.

“My goal was just to qualify for the state meet,” said Adams, who was 30-0 before losing to Suarez. “Winning tonight makes up for last week.”

Adams was one of three area champions Saturday. His teammate, John Jimenez, won the 119-pound title by default over injured Tony Desouza of Chaffey, and Jack Artman of Thousand Oaks kept his undefeated season alive with a default victory at 145 pounds over injured Nick Rios of Arroyo. Artman is 34-0.

The top seven finishers in 13 weight divisions qualified for the state tournament, which will begin Friday at the University of the Pacific in Stockton.

Entertaining thoughts of defaulting because of pain in his Achilles’ tendon and neck, Artman said he was relieved to learn that Rios instead had defaulted.

Jason Pratt of Newbury Park, the 4-A champion, finished third at 152 pounds with a 1-0 victory over Matt Driggs of Torrance. Mark Smith, a heavyweight from Westlake, defeated Willie Green of Savanna, 6-2, for third place.