Calvary Chapel Captures Its Fourth Division I Title

With little emotion and fanfare, Calvary Chapel continued its trek toward a state wrestling title Saturday night, winning seven individual titles, qualifying 11 wrestlers to the Masters meet and winning its fourth Southern Section Division I title at Santa Ana College.

“We did all right,” Calvary Chapel Coach John Azevedo said. “Our guys are doing a good job. They’re focused and ready to move on.”

The Eagles placed seven in the finals, came away with all seven titles and finished with 254 points.

Temecula Valley was second with 172.5 and Villa Park was third with 153.5.

Sophomore Anthony Archuleta started it off for the Eagles, beating Jeremy Mendoza of Temecula Valley by fall at 103 pounds for his first division title.

Frank Gill (130 pounds) won the Eagles’ second final, beating Mike Robles of Valencia, 5-2. And in the 135-pound final, Adam Benitez beat Brethren Christian’s Steve Garcia, 6-3, repeating the result of the Olympic League final.

Without 140-pounder Tony Aparicio, who was expelled from school Feb. 9, the Eagles had to forfeit the weight class. But Adam Bones continued the Eagle run, defeating David Rivera of El Monte, 5-3, at 145 pounds for his third division title.

The Eagles won the next three matches. Fidel Archuleta (152) beat Villa Park’s Willie Parks in a sudden-death overtime match, 3-2. Andy Tufnell beat Marcos Esparza of Rancho Verde, 9-4, at 160 pounds. Conan Williams (171) finished the Eagles’ run with a pin of Bobby Taylor of Ventura in 3 minutes 52 seconds.

Defending state champion Michael Simpson of Brethren Christian won an unprecedented fourth consecutive Division I title.

Simpson had no trouble at 125 pounds, beating Arroyo’s Luis Fragoso by technical fall, 16-1.

“I’ve matured a lot since I was a freshman,” Simpson said. “I’m willing to work hard for what I want.”

Simpson also won titles at 103, 112 and 119 pounds.

Thirty-five Division I wrestlers from Orange County qualified for Saturday’s Masters meet, the state qualifying meet.

Tommy Peralta (112) of Villa Park, who started wrestling his sophomore year, held off defending Division I champion Jose Reyes of Brawley to win, 5-3, with a late takedown in the third period.

Notes

El Modena 189-pounder Brady Fink won by pinning Valencia’s Bobby Davis in 1:52. Foothill heavyweight David Liti pinned Villa Park’s James Benton in 2:18.