He’s Back for Golden Title Shot

Chris Newling’s season last year at Quartz Hill High ended with an ambulance ride.

A broken ankle left no chance for a Golden League wrestling title, only a screw in his right ankle and time to recover.

“The first two months [after the injury], I could only walk,” Newling said. “It was pretty frustrating.”

Newling was 24-7 and hadn’t lost to a Golden League opponent before being hurt in a dual meet against Highland.

This season there have been few obstacles. Newling, who competes at 152 pounds, is 26-6 with 23 pins.

On Wednesday, Newling received a rare challenge from a league opponent, needing a takedown with eight seconds remaining for a 5-3 decision over Highland’s Jose Shaw.

“I should have been Golden League champion last year,” Newling said. “This year I don’t want to be denied.”

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At least someone forced San Fernando’s Will German to break a sweat last weekend.

German cruised through the preliminaries of the San Fernando tournament, needing a combined 2:03 to pin three opponents.

In the 171-pound final, Ricky Brannon of North Torrance forced German to wrestle for six minutes before losing, 3-2.

There was one flaw in Brannon’s game plan. He was too defensive and was penalized for stalling, giving German the winning point late in the third period.

“He had good balance,” German said. “I couldn’t take him down. I was coming at him, but everything I got was out of bounds.”

German, a junior and two-time City Section champion, has been more aggressive, a contrast from last season’s approach of countering off opponents’ offensive mistakes.

The result is a 14-0 record with nine pins.

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Although not as potent as last season’s lineup, El Camino Real still has depth.

When 189-pound starter Chris Sloan sat out last week’s San Clemente tournament to nurse minor injuries, Kyle Luker stepped up from the junior varsity team and placed third.

Luker’s performance helped the four-time defending City champions to a fourth-place finish behind Rancho Buena Vista (178 1/2 points), Irvine (168) and Trabuco Hills (128 1/2).

El Camino Real had 114 points. Cory Lee (112 pounds) was second and Andreik De Leon (171) finished third. Jeff Ford (140), Aaron Kauffman (119) and Phillip Daniels-Hernandez (215) each placed fourth for the Conquistadores.

Rio Mesa’s Mike Dominguez (215) was second, leading the Spartans to ninth place.

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A rule limiting wrestlers to no more than 40 matches before league championships was implemented last season to protect competitors from being overworked.

Because of the rule, many coaches have been forced to become creative with their lineups.

Last week, Camarillo’s Ralph Garcia (189 pounds)--a returning Times all-region selection--was held out of the San Fernando tournament because he was on pace to exceed 40 matches before next week’s Pacific View League finals.

Camarillo also was without Daniel Valencia (119) and Tyler Nielsen (160) for the same reason.

Highland Coach Mike Young pulled 145-pounder Dustin Alleman after three bouts at the San Fernando tournament.

Coaches feel the intent of the rule is good, but it punishes elite wrestlers who accumulate more matches by consistently reaching the medal rounds of tournaments.

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Ventura Coach Mike Colin was pleased to have his team close to full strength for Tuesday’s nonleague dual against El Camino Real.

But he still has some concerns.

Jimmy Renshaw (125) continues to be bothered by an ailing back and Bobby Taylor (171) has performed erratically.

Renshaw aggravated his back when he was pinned by El Camino Real’s Jeff Ford.

Taylor’s season took another puzzling turn that night when he rushed De Leon in the final seconds of the third period. The junior, apparently not realizing action had been stopped, attempted a wild and awkward tackle as De Leon walked back to center for a restart. Taylor was called for unsportsmanlike conduct, awarding De Leon the winning point in a 4-3 decision.

“I thought Bobby Taylor would wrestle better [this season],” Colin said. “He’s our best wrestler in the [practice] room. . . . Then he gives a match away in the final seconds.”

Last season, Taylor, a three-time national age-group champion and the Southern Section Division I runner-up last year, pinned De Leon.

But De Leon, who might be the most improved wrestler in the region, matched up better physically on Tuesday and appeared to frustrate Taylor.

“Bobby needs to wrestle,” Colin said. “You can’t try to push [171-pounders] around.”

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Highland’s young team may be maturing just in time for the postseason.

Young has been pleased with the development of several wrestlers in the upper weights, including Roland Ortiz-Eyritch.

Ortiz-Eyritch (215) is 13-4 with 11 pins. Heavyweight Greg Root has been wrestling for only four weeks but is 9-4 with four pins.

Torrey Pfatenauer (130) started the season 4-21, but has won four of five matches.

“We’re growing week by week,” Young said.

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The Top 10

Rankings of wrestling teams in the region

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RK LW School (League) 1 1 Ventura (Channel) 2 3 Rio Mesa (Pacific View) 3 6 Simi Valley (Marmonte) 4 8 Hueneme (Pacific View) 5 4 Camarillo (Pacific View) 6 5 El Camino Real (City) 7 2 San Fernando (City) 8 NR Highland (Golden) 9 NR Palmdale (Golden) 10 NR Quartz Hill (Golden)

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