Calvary Chapel Wins Title With Inspired Performance

It was so close that only 2 1/2 points separated the teams going into the final round of the state Wrestling Championships.

Saturday in front of 6,000 at the University of the Pacific’s Spanos Center, Calvary Chapel defeated Union City James Logan and defending champion San Jose Independence to be No. 1 in the state.

Calvary Chapel beat San Jose Independence by a half-point, winning with 102.5 points. Union city James Logan finished third with 100.5.

Early in the finals, Steven Abas briefly put James Logan ahead with an 8-5 decision over Paris Ruiz of Fresno Clovis West in the 119-pound match.

But Joe Calavitta’s upset of Elk Grove’s Adam Coffing in the 135-pound final set the tone for the Eagles’ dramatic comeback.

In a rematch of the UC Davis tournament final, which Coffing won, Calavitta went on the offensive.

Calavitta scored a takedown in the last minute to take a 6-5 lead and was able to ride Coffing out for the win.

At 152 pounds, Calvary Chapel, trailing James Logan by two points, needed a victory from Ty Wilcox, who was facing Ati Connor of Goleta Dos Pueblos.

Connor scored first with an escape, but Wilcox came back with a takedown to go ahead, 2-1. But Connor came back with a takedown to lead, 3-2. But in the last minute of the match, Wilcox got the takedown to win, 5-4.

Independence did have one more chance to win, but Oscar Gonzalez could only get a 13-5 decision over Jason Riley of Santee Santana at 171 pounds rather than a pin.

For Calvary Chapel, this is their third state title. They won in 1993 and 1994.

“It was the Lord,” said Calvary Chapel Coach John Azevedo, named top coach of the tournament. “We talked about what we needed to do. But they did the best they could, and that’s all you ask of them.”

In other championship matches, Calexico’s Bryan Sanchez defeated San Diego Valhalla’s J.J. Roberts, 6-2. At 112 pounds, Riverside Norte Vista’s Dominic Garcia came back in the last seconds of the match to beat Shingle Springs Ponderosa’s Ryan Escobar, 11-8. Carlos Blanco of Moreno Valley Canyon Springs beat defending champion Tony Gomez of Independence, 7-3, at 125 pounds. Luis Blanco won his 130-pound match over Cliff Acosta of Hughson, 6-2. Adam Tirapelle (140) of Clovis Buchanan beat Joey Martinez of Turlock, 15-5, in the 140-pound final. At 145 pounds, Steve Strange of Hughson beat Jesse Reta of James Logan, 3-1.

Matt Demers of Modesto Grace Davis beat Sonny Pereschica of Kingsburg, 8-3, in the 160-pound final. At 189 pounds, Mark Munoz of Vallejo beat Miguel Rodriguez of Alisal, 19-9. Chino Don Lugo’s Jose Aguilar was the winner at 215 pounds, beating Vacaville Wood’s Dathan Miller, 4-2. At 275 pounds, Billy Blunt of Grace Davis beat Lafo Apineru of Barstow, 11-4.

Matt Azevedo of Calvary Chapel took third with a 5-1 decision of El Cajon’s Cedrick Haymon.

Also placing for the Eagles were Burt Pierson (sixth at 125) and Chris Meineke (seventh at 171).

Of the eight medals awarded Orange County wrestlers, the Eagles accounted for five.

Santa Ana, which qualified three wrestlers to the tournament, came away with two medalists.

Ignacio Bahena beat Frank Gil of Escondido, 7-4, to take seventh at 112 pounds.

Sadie Morales, who lost Friday to Bakersfield’s Nate Vasquez, took seventh at 125 pounds with a 9-4 decision of Sacramento Foothill’s Anthony Adame.

At 275 pounds, Jason Derre of Newport Harbor was seventh. He beat Redwood’s Grant Harrington, 4-1.