Irvine Wrestlers Win Their Vaquero Classic

Seven Irvine wrestlers reached the finals and three were champions as the team won its Vaquero Classic on Saturday at Irvine High.

Irvine had 175 points, followed by Riverside Norte Vista with 138 1/5 points. Capistrano Valley was third with 135 and Mission Viejo was fourth at 112.

Irvine junior Andrew Pena scored a 21-5 technical fall over teammate Warren Brown, who was representing the Irvine B squad. At 145 pounds, Irvine’s Alan Rush got a reverse and takedown in the third period to decision Dana Hills’ Bao Quach, 7-4. At 152 pounds, the Vaqueros’ Zak Stevens easily defeated Brian Canfield of Capistrano Valley, 12-1.

The biggest upset came at 112 pounds. Mission Viejo’s Bonilla, who beat Capistrano Valley’s Krepper last season in the South Coast League finals, was defeated, 3-2.

Sam Han of Mission Viejo, who pinned Chris Rush in 47 seconds in the 135-pound final, was named the most valuable wrestler in the lower weights.

David Ton of Baldwin Park Sierra Vista, top wrestler in the upper weights, pinned Aaron Cross of Kennedy in 4:24 the 171-pound finals.

Other champions from the county included Scott Elliott (119) and Andrew Tuzzolino (215), Jeff Tibbitts (189) of Mission Viejo and Dan DeClark of Villa Park.