CIF STATE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS : Calvary Chapel Sets Record for Points, Wins Second Title in Row

Calvary Chapel, the high-powered and high-profile wrestling team has unwittingly added another P to their creed of practice, perseverance and prayer.

Pressure. And those expectations helped contribute to some uncharacteristic surprises as the Eagles flexed their way to a second consecutive State wrestling title Saturday night.

Calvary Chapel dominated the two-day meet to the point that the Eagles had the championship wrapped up before the final round began, and the sold-out crowd at the University of Pacific’s Spanos Center felt the gritty little Christian school was getting greedy.

Calvary Chapel sent eight wrestlers to State and three to the finals, where all won individual titles. The performances of State champions Shane Valdez (119), Josh Holiday (145) and Ed Mosley (152) helped the Eagles’ score a State-record 121.5 points. Runner-up Moreno Valley Canyon Springs produced 81.5 points and two champions.

But Calvary Chapel never won the fans’ hearts. After defending State champion Dane Valdez--the heavy favorite to add the 125 pound ribbon to last year’s 119--was upset in the morning semifinals, they roared their approval.

The exercise was repeated during the championship, when brother Shane Valdez won the 119 title but was booed for his defensive stance. After three consecutive runner-up finishes at 112, the Oklahoma-bound senior ended the drought with a 5-4 victory over Tommy Montoya of Baldwin Park.

“It kind of upset me,” Shane said of the reaction. “But it didn’t really matter. I got what I wanted. I was so nervous, I kept trying to relax myself, but I couldn’t, so I didn’t attack. I was on the defense.”

Newly crowned divisional champions Darryl Christian (140) of Canyon and Juan Alvarez (135) of El Modena were more aggressive in victory. Together, they helped Orange County, with five champions, to its best State finish ever.

But Christian, who won two State titles in Oregon and has dominated his class since his arrival in California, wasn’t fully satisfied. Christian, who defeated Edison’s Alfred Frausto, 10-4, had hoped to wrestle top-ranked Moises Perez of Madera.

“All I heard about was Perez this, Perez that,” said second-ranked Christian. “I would have liked to meet him. You know, No. 1 and 2, head to head. A win feels better when you’ve done your best.”

Although Christian wasn’t initially elated, the joy of a third State title should soon sink in.

It didn’t take long for victory’s significance to hit Alvarez, an 11-9 winner over George Mercado of Oak Grove. Or his coaches.

“Juan wrestled a great match, all his hard work this year paid off,” El Modena Coach Alan Clinton said. It was the Vanguards’ first State champion since 1975.

En route to breaking the existing team record of 117.5 points set by Fresno Clovis West in 1984, Calvary Chapel could have broken it by more. But the Eagles were docked 11 points for a flagrant misconduct penalty and a unsportsmanlike conduct call, or it would have fallen before finals.

Calvary Chapel boasts four Southern Section titles in row and now two California crowns and did it with a program started five years ago by Azevedo, a 1980 Olympian and former NCAA champion.

“We had our ups and downs,” he said. “We made some mistakes, but I think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves from the beginning. It’s nice to defend the title.”

The twin Valdez brothers were attempting to become the first brothers to win State titles since Merced High’s Adam and Dan Cuestas did it in 1977. But Canyon Springs’ Norman (103) and Stephen (112) Abs did it instead.

Wrestling Notes

In a short presentation before the finals, Calvary Chapel Coach John Azevedo was named the national high school wrestling coach of the year by U.S. Wrestling.