Powerhouse Calvary Chapel Charging Toward Fourth Title

Santa Ana Calvary Chapel, ranked first in the state and 10th in the nation, will try to win its fourth state wrestling title as the Eagles join the other 113 wrestlers from the Southern Section at the University of Pacific’s Spanos Center in Stockton beginning Friday.

Defending champion Calvary Chapel, which has won three titles in the last four years, leads the section with nine wrestlers who will compete in the two-day championship event.

The Eagles are led by defending state champions Joe Calavitta (140 pounds) and Ty Wilcox (160). Wilcox, a senior who transferred to Calvary Chapel in his junior year from Nevada Union in Grass Valley, is ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Wrestling.

Other Calvary Chapel wrestlers expected to do well are Tino Archuleta (125) and Jay McGuffin (135).

If Calvary Chapel wins the state title, the Eagles would move into second place as the team with the most state titles. Clovis leads the list with six.

Other returning state champions from the Southern Section are Bryan Sanchez of Calexico and Carlos Blanco of Riverside Canyon Springs.

Justin Flores, the Masters champion at 119 pounds, will lead Temecula Valley, which qualified seven wrestlers.

San Jose Independence, which finished half a point behind Calvary Chapel last year, will join San Diego Poway as the two top schools with the best chance to unseat the Eagles.

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State Tournament

* When--Friday: first round 8 a.m., second round 12:30 p.m., third round 5 p.m. Saturday: semifinals 10 a.m., finals 7 p.m.

* Where--University of Pacific, Stockton