Irvine Has to Settle for Second Place

Once again Irvine came up short against defending champion Temecula Valley in the Southern Section Division II wrestling finals Saturday.

Temecula Valley, which defeated the Vaqueros last year at this meet, won this time with 133 1/2 points, one more than second-place Irvine.

Irvine had a six-point lead going into the finals with three wrestlers in the finals. Temecula Valley had two.

“That’s not too many points to go into the finals,” Irvine Coach John Phillips said before the final round. “Anything can happen, and that lead can fall in a second.”

Irvine’s shot at a team title improved when Temecula Valley’s 112-pounder Justin Flores lost to Oxnard Channel Island’s Juan Roman, 4-3, keeping Irvine’s fragile lead intact.

At 119 pounds, Irvine’s Peter Hamilton lost to Lonnie Peterson of Camarillo, 13-3.

Irvine’s Andrew Pena, who won a division title last year at 119, took an immediate 5-2 lead over Camarillo’s Rick Peterson, who came back to win, 9-8, in the 125-pound final.

That set up the 130-pound match as Temecula Valley’s last chance to take the lead.

Jake Flores came through with a 6-3 victory over Ryan Montenez of Simi Valley Royal to clinch the victory for his team.

Irvine’s Alan Rush lost the 140-pound title match to Travis Haven of Hemet, 9-4, to end any bid by the Vaqueros.

“I never thought I would be cheering for another wrestler, but we needed that match to win this thing,” Temecula Valley Coach Arnold Alpert said.

Orange County had four champions, including David Deene of Marina at 103 pounds.

“This is so great to win this,” Deene said. “Last year I was knocked out in the semis, so to go this far was sweet.”

Esperanza was seventh in team scoring with 81 1/2 points, El Dorado was eighth (75) and Fountain Valley was ninth (62 1/2).

Richard Meza of Loara won his second consecutive division title by beating Buck Acosta of Barstow at a 152 pounds.

“I was sick all last week and the doctor told me to rest all week so I haven’t been working out at all,” Meza said. “I hope to be ready for Masters and I am going to try for another Masters title.”

At 135 pounds, El Dorado’s David Hanaumi defeated San Dimas’ John McCollum, 8-7. And Damian deBeaubian won his 215-pound match, beating Richard Martin of Moreno Valley, 5-3. deBeaubian was also named the top wrestler in the upper weights.

The top six finishers qualify for the Masters--the state qualifying meet--Saturday at Fountain Valley.