All Area Representatives Sent Home Empty-Handed

Tough day at the office for six area wrestlers who were still in competition Saturday in the State finals at University of the Pacific.

All were defeated in the consolation round and failed to place among the top eight competitors in 14 weight classes.

“I expected it to be tough, and it was,” heavyweight Anthony Vitale of Alemany High said. “There are no bad wrestlers up here.”

Nor were there any placers among the 22 area entries at the conclusion of the two-day tournament at Spanos Center, marking the first time since 1975 an area wrestler failed to medal at the State meet.

Vitale (25-3), who was defeated by Victor Leyva of Porterville Monache, 10-2, in his first match Friday, recorded two victories Saturday before losing to Tony Sotelo of Ramona, 7-2.

Larry Johnson (54-3) of Antelope Valley was defeated twice at 160 pounds after reaching the quarterfinals, losing to Dwayne Gabourel of Rowland, 9-6 .

“I’m extremely disappointed,” Johnson said. “I expected [the competition] to be pretty good, but I thought I was right up there.”

Jacob Waasdorp (56-3) of Quartz Hill, who won one match at 215 on Friday before dropping into the consolation round, was eliminated Saturday by a 4-2 overtime loss to Than Merrill of Fresno.

Vitale, Mission League and Division IV champion, struggled throughout the tournament because of an injured right shoulder.

“I have a torn rotator cuff,” he said. “I wasn’t supposed to wrestle this year. But it’s my senior year and I didn’t want to give it up.”

Also eliminated were Cristobal Gonzalez of Ventura (171), Rey Torres of Royal (160) and Ron Peterson of Camarillo (119).

Gonzalez, the first sophomore in school history to qualify for the State meet, made a solid showing.

After a victory Friday, Gonzalez was defeated in his second match but recorded consolation victories over seniors Ryan Stockton of Clovis Buchanan, 12-10, in overtime and Mike Gonzalez of Caruthers, 9-8. Gonzalez (44-13) lost to sophomore David Schenk of Anderson, 12-4.

Peterson (47-8), who reached the quarterfinals with two victories Friday, was defeated, 11-10, by Matt Azevedo of Santa Ana Calvary Chapel.

Torres (50-7) was 2-2 in the tournament, losing to Juan Sanchez of San Benito, 12-6.