Tuzzolino Helps Capistrano Valley Defeat Mission Viejo in Wrestling

MISSION VIEJO — Which wrestling team would rule in the South Coast League was settled by the big guys Thursday at Capistrano Valley High.

Mission Viejo, ranked 10th in the county, was ahead of seventh-ranked Capistrano Valley by four points going into the heavyweight match. The Cougars’ fate for the meet rested on Andy Tuzzolino’s shoulders.

Tuzzolino, who normally wrestles in the 191-pound weight class, needed to pin Mission Viejo’s Todd Kenaly, who was more than 50 pounds heavier than Tuzzolino.

Tuzzolino earned a pin at 3 minutes 5 seconds of the second period and the Cougars won, 36-34, to remain undefeated at 5-0.

“I told him (Tuzzolino) not to be too aggressive in the first period,” Capistrano Valley Coach Joe Zeller said. “With the heavyweights, it’s real easy to be flipped on your back. And when they get on top of you, it’s easy to lose a match.”

The 173-pound match, in which Mission Viejo’s Joe Kunsch pinned Matt Lanham with 20 seconds left in the third period, gave the Diablos the lead.

“After the 173-pound match, they (the Diablos) had a glimmer of hope,” Zeller said. “And when you get a glimmer, things can happen.”

Fortunately for Capistrano Valley, Scott McConnell (191) dimmed the glimmer by pinning Mike Garrett to keep the match within reach and set up Tuzzolino’s decisive pin.