Anaheim Powers Way to the Title at Vaquero Meet

It was supposed to be the Vaquero Classic wrestling tournament, but it turned into a dual meet between Anaheim and Kennedy.

Both teams placed five wrestlers into the championship final of the 16-team tournament Saturday at Irvine High. Anaheim came away the victor, winning the tournament with 206.5 points. Runner-up Kennedy finished with 159.5.

“With a couple of my key guys out with injuries, we weren’t burning with all of our burners,” Anaheim Coach Joe Marks said. “I knew Kennedy would be tough, but after that first win, I was feeling a little better. This was a good win for us.”

Entering the finals, Kennedy (7-0-1) had to make up 15 points to catch Anaheim, which is ranked seventh in the county. But Anaheim scored early, when Imran Kamiss pinned Kennedy’s Richie Carrillo, ranked second in the county, in 3 minutes 20 seconds for an upset at 112 pounds.

Tim Dye (171) of Anaheim (19-0) pinned Jim Lamb of Manhattan Beach Mira Costa in 4:36.

Kennedy also won two championship matches. Richard Feistman won his 135-pound match against Anaheim’s Ed Coria, 15-6, and Eduardo Martinez beat Justin Holt of Simi Valley, 7-4.

Kennedy Coach Tom Mallich was happy with his team’s performance.

“Last year we finished in sixth place,” said Mallich, “so our plan was just to finish better than last year.”

Defending champion Irvine, ranked fifth in the county, had a disappointing finish, taking fourth, losing to Chino by one point at 113.5. Andrew Pena was the only champion for the Vaqueros, winning his 130-pound match by pinning Steve Chon of Kennedy in 2:46.