1991-92 ALL-COUNTY TEAMS : WRESTLING : Padgett Keeps His Cool When the Heat Is On

The coach sought out his star wrestler in the stands and cautiously asked, “How do you feel about the match?”

Matt Padgett of Canyon looked at the questioner, Coach Gary Bowden, and told a whopper.

“Well, I got my butt kicked,” Padgett said with all the sincerity he could muster. “I just gotta go out there and win the next match.”

Moments earlier, he had been overwhelmed by Keith Richards of Mission San Jose, 13-6, in a second-round match at the CIF State wrestling championships. Quickly, he retreated to the stands in the University of the Pacific’s Spanos Center to ponder his first loss of the season. In six agonizing minutes, his chance for a State title at 160 pounds was history. The undefeated record was gone and probably a shot at a national record for pins, too.

When Bowden came by, inquiring about his state of mind, Padgett figured he’d better keep his thoughts to himself. He wasn’t in the mood for sympathy, anyway.

“My season’s over,” Padgett said to himself. “I just want it to be done.”

But a funny thing happened on the way to tossing in the towel, Padgett kept wrestling in his usual aggressive manner and he kept winning. If he had indeed lost his mental edge, it sure didn’t show. Even Bowden was fooled.

By the next afternoon, Padgett had recorded six consecutive victories, including three by pin, to take home a third-place medal and the national record for career pins in a three-year high school career.

In three seasons at Canyon, Padgett, The Times Orange County wrestler of the year, recorded 114 pins and had a 140-18 record. This season, he had 44 pins and a 54-1 record, winning titles at the Five Counties Invitational, Century League finals, the Southern Section 4-A and the Masters Meet before stumbling against Richards, who won the State championship.

Now, a month after the fact, Padgett is pleased with all he accomplished. Come to think of it, who wouldn’t be?

“Over the last three years, I pretty much did everything I set out to do, except win a State title,” he said. “(After the State meet), I was glad it was over. I didn’t place where I wanted to, but I got the national record and I had wanted to get that since my junior year.”

Certainly, Bowden couldn’t have asked more from Padgett.

“I don’t think I’ll ever have another like him,” Bowden said.

Padgett’s recovery after a heartbreaking loss at the State meet stood out as the ultimate testimony to Padgett’s rock-solid character, according to Bowden.

“A lot of kids will fold up and pitch their tent after a loss like that,” Bowden said. “Just the fact that he lost his chance at an undefeated season and a State championship . . . and the next match, he just terrorized the guy. He rose to the occasion all the way through consolations. He just showed a lot of character there.”

Now, Padgett must endure something more pressure-packed than a two-day, eight-match State meet--college recruiting. He’s narrowed his choices to Cal State Bakersfield, Cal State Fullerton and San Diego State.

“I wish I had a pipeline to Dan Gable (coach at NCAA champion Iowa),” Bowden said. “Padgett is the kind of aggressive wrestler Gable loves. I’d say, he’s the most physical wrestler ever to come out of Orange County.”

All-County Wrestling Squad

FIRST TEAM

Wrestler School Yr. Wgt. Comment Hugo Amaya Valencia Sr. 103 Fourth at State meet; 3-A champion. Shane Valdez Calvary Chapel So. 112 Second at State meet; 1-A champion. Dane Valdez Calvary Chapel So. 119 Eighth at State; second at 1-A. David Quintero Valencia Sr. 125 Third at State meet; 3-A champion. Zac Tapia San Clemente Jr. 130 Seventh at State meet; 4-A champion. Shane Holloway Saddleback Sr. 135 Second at his first State meet. Chad Stewart Capistrano Valley Sr. 140 Third at 4-A; State meet qualifier. Tanni Walling Tustin Sr. 145 2-A champion; State meet qualifier. Thomas McCarthy El Toro Sr. 152 Runner-up at 4-A finals. Matt Padgett Canyon Sr. 160 Third at State meet; 4-A champion. Eric Escobedo Huntington Beach So. 171 4-A champion; State meet qualifier. Nick Nosek Dana Hills Sr. 189 Fourth at 4-A; State meet qualifier. Mike Bolster Huntington Beach Sr. Hwt Fourth at State meet; 4-A champion.

SECOND TEAM

Wrestler School Yr. Wgt. Loc Pham Irvine Jr. 103 Jim Provencio Valencia Jr. 112 Gilbert Quintero Valencia Sr. 119 Truc Tran Canyon Sr. 125 David Gayer Canyon Jr. 130 Brad Belanger Savanna Sr. 135 3-A champion. Matt Berg Trabuco Hills Sr. 140 Mike Nakonieczny Buena Park Sr. 145 Mike Martinez Laguna Hills Sr. 152 Marc Zavala Anaheim Sr. 160 Justin Young Canyon Sr. 171 Eric Williams Huntington Beach Sr. 189 Willie Green Savanna Sr. Hwt

Wrestler Comment Loc Pham Fifth at 4-A; State meet qualifier. Jim Provencio Fifth at State meet; second at 3-A. Gilbert Quintero Third at 3-A; State meet qualifier. Truc Tran 4-A champion; State meet qualifier. David Gayer Second at 4-A; State meet qualifier. Brad Belanger Fourth at State meet; Matt Berg Won 2-A division title. Mike Nakonieczny Finished second at 2-A finals. Mike Martinez Finished third at 2-A finals. Marc Zavala Fifth at 3-A; State meet qualifier. Justin Young Second at 4-A; State meet qualifier. Eric Williams Won 4-A division championship. Willie Green 3-A champion; State meet qualifier.