HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING : Calvary Chapel Dominates Meet

Once again, Santa Ana Calvary Chapel showed why it is the Southern Section’s top wrestling team this season. The Eagles--with two champions, one runner-up and three third-place finishers--dominated the Masters meet Saturday at Fountain Valley.

Next week, they will travel to the CIF State meet in Stockton as one of the favorites to win the team title. Competition probably will come from Clovis, the three-time State champion, and Shingle Springs Ponderosa.

Others might doubt the chances of Calvary Chapel, with a student body of 500, for a State title, but not Coach John Azevedo, a former 1980 Olympic team member.

“We can do it, but it’s going to take a great performance,” said Azevedo, whose team won the Southern Section Division III dual meet and individual titles this season.

The top seven Masters meet finishers advanced to the State meet, to be held Friday and Saturday at the University of the Pacific’s Spanos Center.

At 119 pounds, the Eagles’ Dane Valdez defeated Calderon, 10-7, and improved to 39-0. At 130, the Eagles’ Joey Coughran won by default over Juan Alvarez of El Modena. At 135, the Eagles’ Mauricio Mora was pinned by Zac Tapia of San Clemente at the 1:45 mark. Shane Valdez, at 112 pounds, Josh Holiday (140) and Ed Mosley (145) all finished third for Calvary Chapel.

Bell High, flooding the final round of the City finals with 10 entries, came away with six tournament champions to easily claim its first City title in only the program’s third season.