Road to State Meet Gets Tougher

The going gets tough this weekend for City and Southern section wrestlers challenging for berths in the state finals March 5-6 at University of the Pacific in Stockton.

Monroe High will host the City finals Saturday, with the champion in each of 14 weight divisions advancing to the state meet. The Southern Section Masters meet, divided into two days for the first time, begins today at Fountain Valley High. The top eight at each weight will advance from what perennially is among the most arduous tournaments in the state.

The Masters meet, divided into six rounds, includes 24 of the top competitors from the section’s five divisions. The tournament increased in size this season by 84 wrestlers.

Coaches and competitors were equally relieved when the tournament was restructured.

“What people don’t realize is that it’s the toughest kids on the block beating the snot out of each other,” Ventura Coach Paul Clementi said. “It’s nothing but [section and league] champions.”

Yet, while the plot thickens, the field of competitors dwindles.

In a decidedly down year among local teams, only 17 Southern Section wrestlers from the region will compete at Fountain Valley.

Ventura, the region’s only Division I team, had three wrestlers reach the state tournament last season, including eventual champion Cristobal Gonzalez. This season, only Trevor Clocherty, a senior at 140 pounds, remains. Clocherty, sixth in Division I, is 42-5.

Similar story for Highland, a Division IV power. The Bulldogs had four entries in the Masters meet last season. This year, only John Garfinkel (160) and Mike Estrada (103) are entered. Palmdale’s Devon Zemp (140) and Lancaster’s Adam Wheeler (215) round out a thin contingent from the Golden League.

Thousand Oaks’ Wes Cobos (145), Larry Schneider (152) and Chris Jansen (heavyweight) are among seven Marmonte League entries.

“It’s a down year,” Coach Larry Mortensen of Thousand Oaks said. “A lot of teams aren’t going at all.”

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Garfinkel, with 220 victories in his four-year varsity career, appears to be the region’s best hope for winning a state title.

Garfinkel, 56-3 this season, has a state-record 132 pins. He placed second in the Division IV finals. Barring injury, Garfinkel should easily qualify for the state meet.

Garfinkel reached the state meet last season but failed to place among the top eight. This season, he has been sparring against Max Odom of Foothill Bakersfield, state champion last season at 130.

Garfinkel and Tiloi Tuitama (171), Hueneme’s lone representative, are the region’s only Southern Section wrestlers who competed in the state meet last season.

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Schneider of Thousand Oaks enters the Masters meet hobbling after suffering torn knee ligaments last weekend in the Division III finals at North Torrance.

Schneider (34-6) reached the Masters meet last season but failed to qualify for the state tournament. Cobos (35-2), who reached the Masters as a sophomore, returns to the meet after failing to qualify last season.

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Expect the City finals to be dominated by El Camino Real and San Fernando.

The Conquistadores defeated San Fernando, 31-30, for the City dual-meet title Feb. 18.

El Camino Real and San Fernando have a combined five wrestlers attempting to repeat as City champions: Rick Aguirre (103), and Andy (130) and Eddie Moro (135) of San Fernando, and Eugene Korchmarev (160) and Anthony Thomas (171) of El Camino Real.

Monroe’s Arthur Bryan enters the tournament 28-1 at 215 pounds.

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On the Mats

Wrestlers from the region competing in the Southern Section Masters meet today and Saturday at Fountain Valley High.

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Name School Yr. Weight Ralph Garcia Camarillo Sr. 171 Hank Robles Camarillo So. 103 John Garfinkel Highland Sr. 160 Mike Estrada Highland So. 103 Tiloi Tuitama Hueneme Sr. 171 Timothy Farag La Canada Sr. 145 Adam Wheeler Lancaster Sr. 215 Jared Brems Newbury Park Sr. 135 John Fleener Oxnard Sr. Hwt Devon Zemp Palmdale Sr. 140 Shannan Sams Royal Sr. 145 Chris Rueckert Royal Jr. 152 Tyson Hadduck Simi Valley Jr. 171 Larry Schneider Thousand Oaks Sr. 152 Wes Cobos Thousand Oaks Sr. 145 Chris Jansen Thousand Oaks Sr. Hwt Trevor Clocherty Ventura Sr. 140

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