Santa Ana’s Final Sweep Gives It Wrestling Title

After six of his wrestlers advanced to championship finals Friday at the El Modena Holiday Classic, Santa Ana Coach Scott Glabb was feeling pretty good. When all six won their matches Saturday at Santa Ana College, he was ecstatic.

“This was our first tournament that we won this year,” Glabb said. “We came in sixth at the El Dorado tournament and fourth at the Loara, so we’ve been coming on steadily.”

The Saints, ranked sixth in the county, finished with 197 points. No. 2 El Modena was second with 176 1/2. No. 7 Laguna Hills was third with 159.

Santa Ana’s run started when Tony Perez defeated Century’s Oscar Martinez, 15-13, in overtime for the 103-pound title.

Santa Ana won the next four matches. Jose Najera manhandled Mike Suehiro of Montebello Schurr, 14-3, to win the 112 title.

“Suehiro placed fifth in state last year at 103 pounds, so that was a big win for us and Jose,” Glabb said.

At 119 pounds, Jose Leon, ranked second in the county, upset top-ranked Brian Masumoto of Fountain Valley, 11-7. Froilan Gonzalez beat Jose Palomares of Savanna, 21-7, at 125, and Manuel Vilagomez beat Loara’s Luis Aparicio, 6-5, at 130. Steve Avalos won Santa Ana’s sixth match, beating Bob Griffin of Laguna Hills, 6-5, at 145.

Laguna Hills’ Mike Quesnel, who was named the tournament’s most valuable wrestler in the upper weights, won at 160 pounds by injury forfeit. Quesnel, who had won by fall in each of his previous matches, was leading, 3-0, when the match was called. La Puente Bishop Amat’s Theo West was knocked unconscious after bumping the back of his head against Quesnel’s face while trying to escape a hold.

After attempts to revive West were unsuccessful, Quesnel was declared the winner. West later came to and left with his parents. Scott Kazarian was Laguna Hills’ other champion. He beat Magnolia’s Early Jones, 9-3, at 189 pounds.

Other county champions included El Modena’s Charlie Williams (152), Orange’s Ryan Besneatte (171), Santa Ana Valley’s Dan Melendez (215) and Magnolia’s Leo Schwartz (275).