San Fernando Might Pull Reversal on El Camino Real

Nine returning starters might finally make San Fernando High’s wrestling team the favorite to win the City Section championship.

“On paper, you would have to say we are one of the top two contenders,” San Fernando Coach Mike Castillo said. “My supporters are expecting us to win, but anything can happen.”

Four-time defending City Champion El Camino Real is the Tigers’ main hurdle.

Last season San Fernando defeated El Camino Real during the regular season, but the Conquistadores rallied for victories at the section dual-meet and individual tournaments.

San Fernando last won the City title in 1991, the only crown under Castillo.

The Tigers captured six championships from 1977-1987 under Sam DeJohn.

El Camino Real has won seven titles since 1990. Coach Terry Fisher has guided the last six Conquistadore championship teams, tying with DeJohn for the all-time section lead.

In several of those seasons, San Fernando came within one or two bouts of being champion.

“It’s been their time to win for many years,” Fisher said. “It’s been real close and we’ve been a little lucky.”

Most of El Camino Real’s scoring punch graduated, including City champions Moshe Levi, Jamar Cargo and Edward Lemus.

San Fernando has the section’s top athlete, Will German.

German, a junior and two-time City champion, possesses exceptional balance, which allowed him to hold his own against bigger opponents last season.

He wrestled in the 189-pound class early but dropped to 160 for the City finals and is expected to compete at 171 this season.

“We’ll see how it goes,” Castillo said. “If he’s too big and he’s growing, we’re not going to cut [weight] with him.”

The bulk of the squad, including German, are products of the San Fernando Boys’ and Girls’ Club youth wrestling program.

Most City wrestlers are not exposed to the sport until they reach high school.

“Those kids have a lot of years on the mat,” Fisher said.

Behind German, the Tigers could dominate in the upper weights.

The question for Castillo is, who will compete in which weight class?

Conrad Silva, Fernando Uribe, Manuel Hernandez and Armando Salazar each added 15-20 pounds, creating a log-jam for Castillo between 160 and 189.

Juan Mata, at 215 pounds, and heavyweight Luis Achonga are expected to anchor the lineup.

San Fernando might be vulnerable in the lighter weights.

Juan Estrada returns at 103 pounds, where he placed third in the City, but 112-pound City champion Joe Michel moved to Oregon. Eligibility problems have created thin spots in other areas.

Ramon Perry, second in the City at 135 pounds last season and potentially one of the most talented wrestlers in the region, will juggle his time between basketball and wrestling.

Senior Victor Solano will compete at 119 and first-year senior Rudy Lopez impressed Castillo enough during summer competition to earn the 130-pound spot.

“We have a lot of good guys in the upper weights, but you have to have 14 weights to fill the lineup,” Castillo said. “I can rent a heavyweight. Other people have problems getting heavyweights, but I have problems getting lightweights.”

El Camino Real will rely heavily on last season’s junior varsity to defend its title.

Andreik De Leon, 29-9 at 171 pounds last season, is the Conquistadores’ lone returning City champion. Cory Lee was 27-10 and finished second to Michel. Danny Mancilla was third in City at 135 and moves to either 140 or 145.

Matt Roman, at 125 pounds, and Chris Sloan, at 189, are the only other returnees.

The Conquistadores get a boost from transfer Jeff Ford, City runner-up at 140 pounds. Another transfer, Weixi Yen, competed in Washington last season and could fill a void at either 135 or 140.

“Last year we had to replace seven guys and we replaced them with JV guys,” Fisher said. “We’ll be all right if they continue to develop like they did during their JV careers.”

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THE TOP TEN

Rankings of wrestling teams in the region

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RK School (League) 1 Ventura (Channel) 2 San Fernando (City) 3 Rio Mesa (Pacific View) 4 Highland (Golden) 5 Simi Valley (Marmonte) 6 El Camino Real (City) 7 Hueneme (Pacific View) 8 Camarillo (Pacific View) 9 Royal (Marmonte) 10 Agoura (Marmonte)

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