Briggs Is Not Pinning All His Hopes

Jared Briggs, who wrestles at 119 pounds for Littlerock High, has shown huge improvement this season with a 22-0 record and 16 pins.

Briggs was eliminated in the second round of the Southern Section Division IV individual championships and finished 23-5 last season.

Briggs, a senior, breezed through the Barstow tournament in December and won his weight division in a tough Highland tournament last week.

Briggs has learned patience rather than relying on pins for victories.

“He’s an offensive wrestler,” first-year Coach Steve Stokes said. “He tends to be the guy who shoots, but I think sometimes he’s stuck on trying to cradle [opponents]. . . He’s going to run into guys he can’t cradle.”

At the Highland tournament, Briggs was forced to earn decisions in several bouts.

“In [the Southern Section championships] it was tough to get a pin,” Briggs said. “I wanted to work and get experience [at Highland]. It came down to the final minute and [my opponents] were putting up a major fight.”

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Agoura hosts Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks hosts Royal in pivotal Marmonte League dual meets tonight. Both matches start at 7.

Agoura, led by seniors Matt Javid and Lorne Berfield, is unbeaten in league competition and appears headed for a showdown next week with two-time defending champion Thousand Oaks.

But Thousand Oaks could be without Yi Bing Chen at 125 pounds because of a sprained ankle and John Hudgens at 140 because of illness. The Lancers have also struggled in the upper weights, a strength for Royal.

Chris Rueckert (171) of Royal qualified for the Southern Section Masters meet last year and teammate Jon Koppenhaver (215) is a defending league champion.

“Our kids who have been winning have to win, and our kids that are not so good have to avoid getting pinned,” Thousand Oaks Coach Manny Valdez said. “It will be a contest of who gets pinned the least.”

Royal, which lost to Agoura, and Simi Valley, which was beaten by Thousand Oaks last week, 40-38, could force a four-way tie for first place with victories.

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Tyson Hadduck (189) of Simi Valley might miss the rest of the season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Coach Guy Greene of Simi Valley said Hadduck will get a second opinion but an upcoming physical for the Air Force Academy will be a consideration in his decision whether to continue wrestling.

Hadduck was accepted to the Air Force Academy in the fall.

“He’s wrestled with [the injury] for several weeks,” Greene said. “He wants to attend the Air Force Academy and it’s real important he passes the physical. If he wasn’t going to the academy, he might be looking at it differently.”

Hadduck injured his knee in the Irvine tournament on Dec. 11.

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Moshe Levi (140) of El Camino Real is taking a break from competition. Levi, unbeaten this season, did not compete at the Highland tournament.

El Camino Real Coach Terry Fischer said he is unsure when Levi, a senior, will return.

“He needed a break,” Fischer said. “He’s working and he’s a little burnt out right now.”

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The Marmonte League finals are Feb. 5 at Simi Valley and meet organizers are looking for volunteers and sponsors to help with the event. Information: (805) 577-1458.

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Highland, seven-time defending Golden League champion, defeated Lancaster and recorded its 307th varsity victory on Wednesday in a league dual meet.

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A state rule is expected to be adopted next year limiting the number of bouts for wrestlers.

Coach Paul Clementi of Ventura said the rule will not allow wrestlers to compete in more than 40 matches prior to league finals.

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The Top 10

Rankings of region wrestling teams

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RK LW School (League) 1 1 Ventura (Pacific View North) 2 2 Highland (Golden) 3 3 El Camino Real (City) 4 5 Camarillo (Pacific View South) 5 6 Quartz Hill (Golden) 6 7 Rio Mesa (Pacific View South) 7 9 Agoura (Marmonte) 8 NR Thousand Oaks (Marmonte) 9 4 Simi Valley (Marmonte) 10 NR Royal (Marmonte)

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