ESTANCIA WRESTLING TOURNAMENT : Top-Ranked El Modena Edges No. 4 Irvine to Finish Second

After striving for years to get there, El Modena found out Saturday that life at the top of county wrestling can be quite stressful.

The top-ranked Vanguards needed every escape and takedown they could muster to hold off a challenge from No. 4-ranked Irvine and retain county bragging rights at the two-day, 48-team Estancia Tournament.

El Modena edged Irvine by a half-point in a battle for second place, 126.5-126. Moreno Valley Canyon Springs won the tournament with 156 points.

The issue between El Modena and Irvine wasn’t settled until the last Vanguard left the mat.

“That was easy,” said El Modena Coach Alan Clinton, who spent a good part of Saturday pacing. “Really, I’m pleased. Yes, we did want to hold them off.”

Relieved might be a better way to describe Clinton’ feelings. El Modena consistently has been among the county’s best in recent years. But they’ve had to look up at Canyon. So after finally reaching the top this season, the Vanguards didn’t want to lose their status to Irvine.

Of course, Irvine would have liked nothing better.

“We came here hoping to beat El Modena,” Irvine Coach John Phillips said. “We’re a little disappointed. I guess we couldn’t be much closer. So it was a good tournament.”

El Modena was led by two individual champions: Juan Alvarez at 130 pounds and David Wells at 140.

“This is a good day for us,” said Alvarez after a hard-fought 8-5 decision over Lance Kaneoka of West Torrance. “Now that we’re No. 1, there is a lot of pressure on us. Right now, I’m beat.”

Walking away from his title match with plenty of energy left was Kirk Offel of El Dorado. Offel recorded the day’s fastest pin, winning the 125-pound title match in 31 seconds.

“I was pretty pumped up for this match,” said Offel, a senior who raised his record to 20-2.

After his team’s near miss Saturday, Phillips said he expects more close battles until the Southern Section crown is decided in March.

“Obviously, there isn’t much difference in the teams at the top,” Phillips said. “It’s all up for grabs.”