SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION III WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP : Calvary Chapel Reverses ’92 Memories

Surprises? You want surprises? You better not watch Calvary Chapel’s wrestling team. The Eagles are as predictable as they are good.

They won their second Southern Section championship in less than a week, defeating Irvine, 40-22, in the Division III dual meet final Thursday at Calvary Chapel.

As usual, the Eagles (17-1) dominated the lower weight classes and wiped out memories of a one-point loss to Yucca Valley in last season’s final. Thursday’s victory came on the heels of an overpowering performance in winning the Division III individual championships Saturday.

Irvine, eighth in the individual final, finished its season 18-1.

“This year, I didn’t think anything was going to stop us,” said Matt Kellogg, whose victory at 162 pounds clinched the victory.

Next up for Calvary Chapel is the Masters meet Saturday at Fountain Valley. The Eagles qualified seven wrestlers and Coach John Azevedo fully expects all seven to advance to the CIF State meet next week in Stockton.

Certainly, it wouldn’t come as a shock. And a State championship isn’t out of the question, either.

“They’re confident,” Azevedo said. “They’ve been doing well all season, so there’s no reason not to be confident.”

If there is a team with better strength in the lower weights, it hasn’t made its presence known. Stiff competition will likely come from Clovis, the three-time defending State champion, however.

After Irvine’s Sean Billings pinned Xavier Wilder 1 minute 27 seconds in their 105-pound match, Calvary Chapel seized control.

At 114, Shane Valdez of Calvary Chapel defeated Loc Pham, 7-2, in what turned out to be the most entertaining match of the night. Valdez improved his record to 47-0.

At 121, Dane Valdez improved to 35-0 with a pin of Jeremy Brown at 3:27.

Greg Smith (127), Joey Coughran (132), Mauricio Mora (137), Josh Holiday (142) and Eddie Mosley (147) then recorded quick victories for Calvary Chapel.

The Eagles led, 31-6, at that point, but it took Kellogg’s victory to clinch matters.

For Kellogg, who did not qualify for the Masters meet, it was a fine way to end his high school wrestling career. At one point this season, he was wrestling on the Eagle junior varsity because he couldn’t beat out teammates Holiday and Matt Van Hook.

Finally, Azevedo moved Kellogg up a few weight classes where he found his niche at 162.

“It feels good to get back into it,” Kellogg said. “I like going up against the heavier weights.”

As if he needed it, Kellogg got added motivation when his opponent, Chris Kiyan, dropped him on his head while they were off the mat in the first period. Kiyan quickly apologized and Kellogg said he was OK.

Still . . .

“It kind of fired me up to go after him,” said Kellogg, who went on to defeat Kiyan, 10-4.

Irvine won two of the final three weights. But that, too, was hardly unexpected.