Masterful Performance Given by Eagles, Saints

Calvary Chapel captured its second consecutive Southern Section wrestling title--and 10th in 12 years--by amassing a Division I-record 312 points Saturday at Murrieta Valley High.

Calvary Chapel set the previous record of 284 in 1997. Temecula Valley was second Saturday with 224, Rosemead was third (155.5), El Modena fourth (154) and Villa Park fifth (141.5).

Calvary Chapel sent 10 wrestlers into the title round and emerged with eight champions. The top six individual wrestlers from each weight class advanced to the Masters competition Friday and Saturday at Fountain Valley High.

Orange County will be well represented at the Masters, with 38 wrestlers advancing from Division I. Calvary Chapel will send 11, El Modena nine and Villa Park eight.

Calvary Chapel won individual titles in the 103-, 112-, 130-, 135-, 152-, 160-, 171- and 189-pound classes.

“We did a great job,” Calvary Chapel Coach John Azevedo said. “We came here and did what we had to do, which was to qualify and see if we can be [Southern Section] champions. Our focus was to qualify as many wrestlers as we could in a progression to get to the state championships.

“This was not as tough of a tournament as some we’ve been in, but it’s a qualifier. If you don’t come in with your best game, you could get beat and that’s it.”

Calvary Chapel’s Mario Estrada trailed, 7-2, entering the third period in the 103-pound final. He tied the score, 7-7, then scored on a reverse and won, 9-7.

Teammate Anthony Rodriquez won the 112-pound match, 16-1, and Steve Esparza won the 130-pound final, 11-2.

“This feels great,” Esparza said. “This is my first [Southern Section] championship. I felt good coming into this match. I was mentally and physically prepared, and I knew I would wrestle well. I left everything on the mat.”

Calvary Chapel’s Frank Gill won the 135-pound title, 5-0, and Yuri Kilika won the 152-pound final, 9-4. Joe Williams pinned his opponent in the 160-pound match. Willie Parks won by technical fall at 171 and Conan Williams won with a pin at 2 minutes 45 seconds in the 189-pound weight class.