Temecula Valley's Bristol Hogs Glory at Reno

Temecula Valley’s Bristol Hogs Glory at Reno

By Peter Yoon

Dec. 24, 2001 12 AM PT

Jeff Bristol of Temecula Valley was a surprise winner in the 140-pound weight class at the Reno Tournament of Champions Saturday, but even more surprising was the way he did it.

Not only did Bristol enter the tournament unseeded, but he had to win a “pigtail” match, meaning he had to wrestle into the bracket. Bristol, a senior, then had to beat three seeded wrestlers en route to the title, including top-seeded Jeff Newby of Box Elder (Utah). Bristol defeated Newby, 5-1, in the final.

“To be unseeded and win is rare in that tournament,” Temecula Valley Coach Arnold Alpert said. “To win as a pigtail is unheard of.”

Bristol isn’t exactly a no-name. As a freshman, he qualified for the state meet, but the last two seasons he has battled a torn labrum. Doctors inserted a screw in his shoulder and he missed his sophomore year. Last year, he still wasn’t at full strength, Alpert said.

“Now it’s fully functional,” Alpert said. “This was a big test for him and he was great. He was very focused.”

Bristol was the only individual winner from a Southern Section school in what is considered one of the top high school tournaments in the nation. Teammates Jeremy Mendoza, who placed sixth at 119 pounds, and Derek Anderson, eighth at 152, gave Temecula school records with three placers and 106.5 points. The Golden Bears finished 16th.

Easton Area (Pa.) won the team title with 245 points and Great Bridge (Va.) was second with 237. Bakersfield, considered the favorite for a state title this year, had three individual champions, the most of any team.

Down Year? It appears Santa Ana Calvary Chapel has some work to do if it is going to win a third consecutive state title. The Eagles finished ninth at Reno, a far cry from their first-place finish last year. Bakersfield finished third, Clovis Buchanan was sixth and Poway was seventh, putting three California teams ahead of Calvary Chapel.

Still, the Eagles were the top finishers among Southern Section teams.

Long-distance celebration: Santa Ana won the El Modena tournament by half a point over Moreno Valley Canyon Springs, but Coach Scott Glabb wasn’t there to enjoy it.

Glabb left the tournament early Saturday afternoon for a holiday trip to Washington. He left thinking his team would place second because Canyon Springs had eight wrestlers in the semifinals and Santa Ana had only four.

The Saints won three weight classes, however, and Canyon Springs won two.

“I was surprised to find out we won,” Glabb said. “When I left, it didn’t look like we would do it.”

Cutting it Close: When Foothill defeated rival Tustin in an intracity dual meet last week, it meant more than bragging rights. Tustin Coach Mark Senesac lost a bet with Foothill Coach Russ Caldwell and Senesac must allow Foothill wrestlers to shave his head.

It was supposed to happen after the match, but the clippers broke so Senesac, much to the relief of his wife, will keep his hair until after the holidays.

“We are having pictures taken over the holidays and my wife wasn’t too happy about us losing,” Senesac said. “But I’ll have my hair for them.”

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THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

The Soutland’s top 10 wrestling rankings:

1. Santa Ana Calvary Chapel (SS-Olympic)

Ninth place at Reno has opponents thinking Eagles are vulnerable.

2. Temecula Valley (SS-Southwestern)

Three placers at Reno most ever for the Golden Bears.

3. Rosemead (SS-Mission Valley)

Getting ready for Sierra Nevada Classic Thursday in Reno.

4. Santa Ana (SS-Golden West)

Saints edged Canyon Springs with three wins and a second at El Modena.