Three’s Company Atop South Coast League Standings

For the first time in the South Coast League, there’s a three-way tie for the dual meet title.

Dana Hills, the defending league champion, shares the title with San Clemente and Mission Viejo. All finished with 3-1 league records.

“I guess it really shows how strong our league is,” said Coach Carl Plunkett of Mission Viego, which last won a league title in 1982. “But I think it’s great. And I don’t mind sharing the title with two great teams.”

Dana Hills’ only loss was to San Clemente, which lost to Mission Viejo, which lost to Dana Hills.

Not everybody in the South Coast League is thrilled with the tri-championship.

“I would rather see us go to a point system instead of the way it is now,” Dana Hills Coach Reza Abedi said. “We have three champions as it is, and I really don’t think Mission Viejo deserves to be there.”

Abedi said a coin flip will determine which of the three teams advances to the Southern Section Duals, the field for which is made up of league champions.

“I’m hoping we can change this format,” Abedi said. “I think I have a lot of coaches’ support. And I think it’s better for wrestling all around.”

But the battle for bragging rights in the South Coast League doesn’t end with the duals. There is a final league tournament Saturday at Dana Hills.

Three years ago, Dana Hills was the dual-meet champion and advanced to the section playoffs, but Capistrano Valley won the league’s tournament.

“I don’t think three champions takes away from the accomplishment,” San Clemente Coach Mark Calentino said. “When you’re 46 years old and your children ask you how you did in wrestling, it’s not going to matter if there were three champions. It’s all the same.”

Not all leagues offer chances at winning two championships. In the Golden West League, for instance, the final dual-meet record determines the league’s only champion.

“Some teams are stronger in dual meets than they are in tournaments,” said Santa Ana Coach Scott Glabb whose team won its 10th league title last week. “The dual league title format accommodates both sides of wrestling, and that’s good sometimes.”

Calentino said it’s the kids who benefit the most.

“It’s important for the kids to win their league. This way gives them a chance to do it through a dual meet format and the tournament format.”

EAGLES FLYING HIGH

Calvary Chapel continues to dominate on the mats.

This time, the Eagles left their calling card at the Canyon Springs tournament, which they won with a tournament-record 233 points.

“If you want to say we’re on a roll, OK, but I prefer to say we’re wrestling well,” Calvary Chapel Coach John Azevedo said.

Poway was second (199.5) and Temecula Valley third (159).

Calvary Chapel placed nine wrestlers in the finals with six earning gold.

Tony Aparicio (31-1), who’s ranked first in the county, won the 140-pound division. Aparicio is ranked second in the state behind Matt Cox of Oakdale.

Other Eagle champions were Anthony Archuletta (103), Frank Gill (130), Adam Benetiz (135), Adam Bones (145) and Steve Esparza (125), who was named MVP of the lower weights.

Esparza, who has a 32-2 record, took second at Five Counties, where he wrestled a tough match against defending state champion Michael Simpson of Brethren Christian.

LOOKING AHEAD

On Saturday, Santiago hosts the Garden Grove League finals, Corona del Mar hosts the Pacific Coast League finals and Dana Hills hosts the South Coast Leauge finals. All three tournaments start at 10 a.m.

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