Suddenly, Worthington Finds Himself With a Bite on His Hand

In Josh Worthington’s four years on the Irvine High wrestling team, he has been kicked, punched, head-butted, thrown and choked.

But Wednesday night, while competing against a wrestler from Escondido High for the heavyweight title at the El Modena Mann tournament, Worthington experienced a first: He was bitten.

“I don’t think that’s a part of wrestling,” he said. “It’s not legal, but the ref didn’t call it, so there’s not much you can do.”

The match was close as the big wrestlers went at it. When the two crashed to the mat out of bounds in the third period, Worthington let out a scream that was heard throughout the gym.

“He bit me,” Worthington yelled, holding up his hand.

Despite bite marks clearly visible on his finger, the senior’s complaint was ignored as the referee told him to get back in the center of the mat. At that point, Worthington’s intensity dropped and he lost the match, 5-2.

“I was pretty aggressive that whole match,” he said. “But when he bit me . . . but that’s the way it goes.”

Worthington, who weighs 272 pounds and is the county’s top-ranked heavyweight, played football his freshman year, then chose to devote his time to wrestling.

“I like the intensity of the sport and its individuality,” Worthington said. “If you lose, it’s not because someone missed their block. If you lose, it’s your fault.”

Worthington said he didn’t know anything about the sport when he walked into the Irvine wrestling room as a freshman.

“It’s not the most advertised sport,” he said. “But it’s a great sport, and it’s a shame that it’s not more well-known.”

Besides wrestling, Worthington enjoys playing paintball with his friends.

“It’s another high-intensity sport. It takes a lot of speed and skill,” Worthington said. “I go with my friends and we have a really good time. I’m really good at hiding behind bushes. And it’s a good way to relieve aggression.”

Though big and strong, Worthington said he prefers matches in which technique takes precedence over muscle.

“I can do the brute strength if I have to, but I like the matches where skill is involved. But it’s better when the two are combined.”

Last year, Worthington finished second at the Masters and in the Southern Section Division II finals. However, he lost his first two matches at the state meet and was eliminated in the second round.

“That was a difficult time for me,” Worthington said. “I had just lost a very good friend. He died two days before the competition, so it was very hard to perform with that on my mind.”

The friend, former Irvine wrestler Andrew Pena, died from an apparent brain aneurysm while he was attending San Francisco State.

“It was tough to focus,” Worthington said.

Although upset with what he perceived as bad calls during Wednesday’s tournament final, Worthington is looking forward to his next big match, Five Counties, Jan. 14-15 at Fountain Valley High.

Irvine Coach John Phillips believes Worthington has a chance this season to more than make up for his poor showing at state last season.

“He has what it takes,” Phillips said. “If he can stay focused.”

Said Worthington: “I’ll do my best. Whatever happens, happens. But I do know if I make it up there, I’ll give whomever I wrestle a fight.”

If you have an item or idea for the wrestling report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at erik.hamilton@latimes.com