Sandlin Survives in Torrent of Losses

What started poorly for the Moorpark College wrestling team turned into a longer night on the first day of the state wrestling finals Friday.

Moorpark’s Armando Torres, among six Raiders who qualified for the tournament, was a no-show and Coach Paul Keysaw didn’t know why.

Then, three Moorpark wrestlers were eliminated and the fourth, Melkon Melkonian, fell into the consolation bracket.

The showing gave Moorpark, the defending state champion, just 11 points and a 17th-place standing. The tournament concludes today.

The good news for Moorpark is that Chuck Sandlin, defending state champion, recorded two victories to advance to the 184-pound semifinals. Sandlin will wrestle Scott Smith of Sacramento City in the semifinals at 10 a.m.

“I’ve been training like crazy for this,” Sandlin said. “I have so much confidence right now, there’s not a doubt in my mind I’m going to do it. It’s my title and I will defend it.”

Sandlin scored a 9-2 quarterfinal victory over Summer Brown of West Valley. Earlier, Sandlin defeated Cuesta’s Amos Tong, with a pin in 3:56.

Melkonian, who was defeated by Jake Shiels of Cuesta, 16-2, in the 197-pound quarterfinal, rebounded to defeat Asa Randolf of Cerritos, 3-2, in a consolation match.

Melkonian wrestles James Mason of Chabot today. Melkonian won a first-round match, 18-2, over Delta’s Jay Foster.