Wilner, Edsell named lower-weight MVPs at weekend tournaments

A local high school wrestling tournament turned into a Sunset League showdown between Fountain Valley and Edison.

Fountain Valley, the six-time defending league champion, defeated the Chargers 192-177 in the Edison Beach Bash on Saturday.

The Barons had nine placers, including three weight-class champions. Those to win their divisions were Luis Ramirez (132 pounds), Max Wilner (145) and Trenton Ching (160).

Wilner was named the lower-weight MVP of the tournament after earning all four of his victories by way of fall. In the final, the Barons’ freshman pinned West Covina South Hills’ Jake Banks in just 12 seconds.

“It was our point to make a statement early in the season,” Wilner said of besting the league-rival Chargers. “We’re here, and we mean business.

“It’s a good starting point for the team, winning the Beach Bash at their own tournament.”

Wilner was one of three Fountain Valley freshmen to reach the finals of their weight division. Thomas Madrid (182) and Ramirez were the others.

Edison has added a CIF State placer in Elijah Palacio to its ranks. The senior transferred over from Calvary Chapel, and he pleased his new home crowd in winning the 138-pound division.

Palacio, who earned eighth as a 126-pounder at the state meet in March, registered pins in all four of his matches in the Beach Bash.

“It brings up the room, and it gives the rest of the team something to strive for,” Chargers coach Pete Escandon said of adding Palacio to his team. “At first everyone was a little star-struck, and now, everyone is buying in. The practices are great practices because everyone is trying to get to that level.”

The Chargers matched the Barons in total individual champions with three. Jared Williams (152), a senior transfer from Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, and senior Zack Lund (182) were the others.

Elsewhere, Ocean View’s Noah Edsell also took home lower-weight MVP honors in the Mater Dei Scott Davis Tournament after winning the 126-pound title.

The Seahawks senior won three matches by pin, and he did not allow a point in a 15-0 technical fall victory in the semifinals.

Edsell was a Daily Pilot Dream Team selection last year, earning his second Golden West League crown after moving up to wrestle at 120 last season.

Ethan Olguin, a 132-pound senior was the other Seahawk to place in the tournament, taking seventh.

Ocean View only took five wrestlers to the tournament, but it is no coincidence that the team’s two places are close together in weight. Edsell and Olguin have been sparring partners in practice.

“I think from the start, freshman year, coming into the sport and not really knowing what I was doing, we started sparring together and [Edsell] whipped me into shape sophomore year for CIF,” Olguin said, calling their relationship a brotherhood. “From there, we just started growing. This year, we’re kind of tackling it a little more head-on. We’ve been sparring with different people, but from time to time, we come together.”

In the Andrew Pena Classic at Irvine High, Newport Harbor also had a pair of wrestlers place. Miguel Licona, a 220-pounder, was the runner-up , while JJ Perez posted a third-place showing in the heavyweight division (285).

The Servite Mann Classic will be held locally this weekend, as Marina High will host the wrestling tournament on Friday and Saturday.

Fountain Valley, Edison, Marina and Ocean View will compete in the tournament, which will contain 48-man brackets and have eight placers per weight class.

Two-day passes are $12 for adults and $8 for students and children. Single-day admission is $8 for adults and $5 for students and children.

Wrestling begins at 11 a.m. on Friday, and the tournament will resume at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

andrew.turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @ProfessorTurner