Eagles Are in Position to Win Seventh Title

Calvary Chapel took a big step toward a record seventh state title Friday when the Eagles advanced seven to the semifinals and recorded a first-day team total of 94.5 points in the state wrestling meet at University of the Pacific’s Spanos Center.

“We’re up for this meet,” Eagle Coach John Azevedo said. “The guys were ready to wrestle. But we still have a long way to go.”

In addition to the semifinalists, the Eagles, who are tied with Clovis with six team titles, still have two wrestlers in the medal hunt in the consolation rounds.

Bakersfield, which beat the Eagles earlier this season in a dual meet, was in second place with 69 points and five semifinalists.

Of the 10 Eagle wrestlers entered in the meet, only Justin Boulais at 215 pounds was eliminated.

In the quarterfinals, Calvary Chapel’s Anthony Rodriquez, who won the 112-pound title at the Southern Section Masters meet last week, continued his winning streak, beating Ian McCall of Dana Hills, 12-3.

Senior John Jackson won his 125-pound quarterfinal when he scored a reversal with less than a minute left in the third period to defeat Matt Maldonado of Shafter, 7-5.

Steve Esparza, ranked first in the state at 130 pounds, had little trouble in his three matches, winning by pin and major decision before beating Steve Avelar of Lakewood by technical fall in the quarterfinals.

Masters champion Frank Gill pulled a reversal in the last minute of his 135-pound match to beat Jacob Salas of Madera, 4-2.

Sophomore Joe Williams beat Jason Reyes of Vacaville, 8-2, at 160 pounds.

Willie Parks (171) and Conan Williams (189), both ranked first in the state, also advanced for Calvary Chapel.

The Eagles’ Mario Estrada (103) and Yuri Kalika (152) reached the fourth round of consolations.

Santa Ana’s Wyatt Howard edged Jeff Webster of Corona Centennial, 7-5, to advance to the 189-pound semifinals against Williams, who has beaten the Santa Ana senior the last three times they have met. Santa Ana still has Ozvaldo Avalos in the consolation round. Avalos lost a Dan Pearson of Rancho Buena Vista, 3-1 in a quarterfinal round.

Loara’s Josh Galvan (119 pounds) beat Alfonso Perez of Livingston, 8-1, to advance to the semifinals, where he will meet defending state champion Jacob Palomino of San Jose Independence.

Galvan’s brother Orlando, who won the state title last year at 103 pounds, lost in the quarterfinals and is in the 112-pound consolation round.

Senior Brian LaMay of Capistrano Valley beat Carlos Garcia of Woodlake, 6-2, to win his 145-pound quarterfinal.

Notes

Also still competing are: Doug Yadon (125) and Buck Barger (140) of Villa Park; Jonathan Keene (140) of Mission Viejo, Patrick Cadwallader (135) of Brethren Christian and Jason Murphy (145) of La Habra. All will compete today in the consolation rounds, which start at 8 a.m.

The semifinals start at 10 a.m. and the finals are scheduled for 7 p.m.