Cadwallader Steals the Thunder at 140

Much of the Southern Section Masters meet focused on the 140-pound semifinal match between Buck Barger of Villa Park and Jeff Bristol of Temecula Valley, and for good reason. It was one of the most exciting matches of this season.

Lost in the hype over that match, which featured four lead changes in the third period, was the performance of Cypress Brethren Christian’s Danny Cadwallader, who won the weight class.

Cadwallader, ranked No. 3 in the state behind Bristol and Barger, marched through his half of the bracket with a 21-6 technical fall in the second round, a 15-7 decision in the quarterfinals and a pin in 2 minutes 45 seconds in the semifinals. He dominated Barger in the final, scoring an early takedown, another one early in the second and had a 6-2 lead with another takedown at the second-period buzzer.

He frustrated Barger, who was nearly disqualified after throwing elbows during the third period and shoving Cadwallader on a break. Cadwallader eventually won, 8-2, though referees said Barger had to take a forfeit rather than face disqualification. Cadwallader benefited from drawing the opposite bracket from Bristol and Barger.

“This weight class was anyone’s game,” Cadwallader said. “I was fortunate to be on the opposite side of the bracket from [Bristol and Barger], but it means a lot to me to win it.”

With the victory, Cadwallader again will be on the opposite side of the bracket from Bristol and Barger at the state meet.

City champions: San Fernando won its second consecutive City Section championship on Saturday in their gym with weight-class victories from Jason Paez at 112 pounds, Raphael Reynolds at 125, Will German at 171 and Julian Martinez at 215.

German became the third wrestler to win four consecutive City championships. He advances to the state championships with a chance to become the first City Section wrestler to place twice at the state meet. Other City weight-class winners were: Juan Alvarado (Canoga Park) at 103; Edward Randolph (Canoga Park) at 119; David Ardi (Granada Hills) at 130; Androk Dermejian (Birmingham) at 135; Rhett Whitaker (Granada Hills) at 140; Gevor Atimizyan (Birmingham) at 145; Jimmy Matamoros (Bell) at 150; Omar DeLaTorre (Chatsworth) at 160; John Vargas (Chatsworth) at 189; Mike Kushnitzyan (Birmingham) at heavyweight.