Eagles Pick Themselves Off the Mat in Reno

After being knocked out of the state’s No. 1 ranking by then-No. 2 Bakersfield three weeks ago, Calvary Chapel earned some payback and regained the top spot at the Reno Tournament of Champions one week later.

The Eagles rallied from third place after the first day of competition to edge Broken Arrow (Okla.) by 4 1/2 points to win the Dec. 21-22 tournament, billed as one of the nation’s toughest, with 209 points. Bakersfield finished third with 182 points.

Calvary Chapel had only one champion, Joe Williams, who defeated Broken Arrow’s Luke Calvert in the 160-pound final. The sophomore’s win turned out to be pivotal to his team’s success, as did some luck in the finals of the heavyweight division.

Williams, whose older brother Conan wrestles at 189 pounds, has been one of the Eagles’ bright spots since joining the varsity this year, after compiling a 21-1 record with the junior varsity. Conan, a senior, took third after pinning Jared Dubbs of Dallastown (Pa.) in 2 minutes 31 seconds.

Eagle senior Steve Esparza, who was ranked first in the state, lost to Andy Kim of Poway, 4-2, for the 130-pound title. Senior Frank Gill (135 pounds) defeated Jim Hartey of Norristown (Pa.), 4-2, to finish third.

Villa Park transfer Willie Parks also earned the Eagles a third-place medal with his 8-6 decision over Matt Steel of Tulsa (Okla.) East Central in a 171-pound match.

Mario Estrada (103 pounds) took fifth after losing to Brandon Tucker of Broken Arrow, 9-2. Anthony Rodriguez finished sixth after losing by injury default to Logan Ingram of Clovis Buchanan. Justin Boulais took seventh in the 215-pound division, defeating Matt Engwall of San Bernardino, 9-3.

Bakersfield had four champions--a tournament record--but the Eagles placed more wrestlers in the medal rounds, resulting in a higher team score.

MORE RESULTS

At the Chino Hills Ayala Brute Classic last weekend, Loara’s Orlando (112) and Josh Galvan (119) won individual titles, but Calvary Chapel won the tournament with 257 1/2 points.

Ayala (241) was second, Santa Ana (239) third and El Modena (154) fourth. Calvary Chapel’s Gill, Parks and Conan Williams won individual titles.

TWO EAGLES OUT

Calvary Chapel’s Anthony Rodriguez will be out for a few weeks. Rodriguez, who wrestles at 112, suffered a severe elbow injury at the Reno tournament. Eagle Coach John Azevedo said he hopes to have the senior back by league finals.

Esparza also missed the Brute Classic because of a minor injury he also suffered at Reno, but Azevedo said Esparza should be ready for the Five Counties tournament this weekend.

LOOKING AHEAD

Five Counties, perhaps the toughest tournament in the state, begins Friday at Fountain Valley High.

The two-day tournament features 64 teams, including top-ranked Calvary Chapel, No. 2 Santa Ana, No. 3 El Dorado and No. 4 Villa Park.

Wrestling starts at 3 p.m. Friday. The finals are Saturday at 7 p.m.

If you have an item or idea for the wrestling notebook, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at erik.hamilton@latimes.com

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WRESTLING TOP 10

Orange County Coaches’ Poll

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Pos. School (League) 1. Calvary Chapel (Olympic) 2. Santa Ana (Golden West) 3. El Dorado (Empire) 4. Villa Park (Century) 5. Laguna Hills (Sea View) 6. El Modena (Century) 7. Loara (Empire) 8. Irvine (Sea View) 9. Saddleback (Golden West) 10. San Clemente (South Coast)

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Individual Rankings

103--1. Estrada (Calvary Chapel); 2. Guzman (Santa Ana); 3. Featherstone (Villa Park). 112--1. O. Galvan (Loara); 2. Chavez (Magnolia); 3. Anguto (Villa Park). 119--1. J. Galvan (Loara); 2. Aguilar (Canyon); 3. Caltempa (Buena Park). 125--1. Yadon (Villa Park); 2. Jackson (Calvary Chapel); 3. Tinoco (El Modena). 130--1. Rubio (Santa Ana); 2. Perez (Dana Hills); 3. Meyer (Villa Park). 135--1. Gill (Calvary Chapel); 2. Cadawallader (Brethren Christian); 3. Coles (Laguna Hills). 140--1. Keene (Mission Viejo); 2. Barger (Villa Park); 3. Aguilar (Mater Dei). 145--1. LaMay (Capistrano Valley); 2. Serna (Santa Ana); 3. Buenrostro (Santa Ana Valley). 152--1. Richmond (Kennedy); 2. Avalos (Santa Ana); 3. Meza (Buena Park). 160--1. J. Williams (Calvary Chapel); 2. Gamboa (University); 3. Hacker (Corona del Mar). 171--1. Parks (Villa Park); 2. Becerra (Santa Ana); 3. Blair (Dana Hills). 189--1. J. Williams (Calvary Chapel); 2. Howard (Santa Ana); 3. Carroll (Trabuco Hills). 215--1. Boulais (Calvary Chapel); 2. Ulerich (Capistrano Valley); 3. Montano (El Dorado). HEAVYWEIGHT--1. Chanda (Trabuco Hills); 2. Arrevalos (Mater Dei); 3. Arvizo (Santa Ana).