Calvary Chapel Nears State Title

Calvary Chapel’s crusade for its sixth state title intensified Friday when the Eagles advanced seven wrestlers to the semifinals of the state wrestling championships at the University of the Pacific.

The Eagles closed the first day of competition with 83 points in front of an announced crowd of 5,879.

“We have remained focused throughout the season, even when we had setbacks,” Calvary Chapel Coach John Azevedo said. “I’m completely blown away on how well our guys have done.”

If the Eagles win today, they’ll tie Clovis for the most team state titles.

Clovis is in second with 52.5 points and defending state champion Poway (51.5) is in third.

Calvary Chapel’s Anthony Archuleta advanced to the semifinals after a tough 103-pound match against Ben Frietze of Moreno Valley Canyon Springs. Archuleta scored two points on a reversal in the last 45 seconds to win the match, 4-2. Archuleta wrestles Merced’s Sal Gonzalez, who finished fourth in state last year, in today’s semifinal.

Calvary’s Steve Esparza set up a possible match against defending state champion Michael Simpson of Brethren Christian by beating Fairfield Armijo’s Ceaser Correa, 16-0, in a quarterfinal.

Simpson and Esparza could have faced each other in the Southern Section Division I finals and at Masters, but Esparza forfeited both matches because of ankle injuries. The last time they wrestled each other was at Five Counties and Simpson won, 7-4.

Esparza will face Tommy Vargas of San Bernardino Pacific in his next match.

Top-seeded Simpson beat Robert Pacheco of Salinas Palma, 11-1. He’ll wrestle David Roberts of Grass Valley Bear River in his semifinal match.

Calvary Chapel’s Adam Benitez, top-seeded at 135 pounds, won his quarterfinal match against Miguel Gutierrez of Bakersfield Foothill, 7-3. Esparza will face Madera sophomore Shane Seibert.

Other Calvary Chapel wrestlers to advance to the semifinals were Adam Bones (140), Fidel Archuleta (152), Andy Tufnell (160) and Conan Williams (171).

Orlando Galvan (103) of Loara joined Simpson as the only other wrestlers from Orange County who advanced to the semifinals.

Wrestlers who are still alive in the medal round are Villa Park’s Tommy Peralta (112), Willie Parks (152) and heavyweight James Benton; Robert Antenore (125) and Joe Cobo (145) of Irvine; Robert Valenzuela (119) of Woodbridge; Frank Gamboa (189) of University; Risto Martinen (135) and Sohail Abrahim (140) of Dana Hills; Alex Becerra (189) of Santa Ana; David Liti (Hwt.) of Foothill; Brian Lemay (140) of Capistrano Valley and Bobby Davis (189) of Valencia.