Wrestling: Scorpions rock Mojave River League

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You might even say they rocked it like a hurricane -- or at least I would say that. Um, anyway ...

With Rim of the World forfeiting Thursday’s scheduled dual meet against Hesperia, the Scorpions clinched their second league title in Coach David Stidham’s three years with the team. The team also looks to have sealed the third seed (behind Temecula Valley and Northview and just ahead of Sultana) in the Southern Section Division I dual meet championship at Victor Valley College on Feb. 9.

Mojave River is the only league featuring two top-10 teams in the Southern Section rankings (Hesperia is fifth, Sultana is seventh). It is also the only league with two teams ranked in the state’s top 25 -- the most recent rankings (Jan. 7) have Sultana at No. 14 and Hesperia at No. 18.

Starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, Hesperia and Sultana, and the rest of the Mojave River League, will go at it with individual titles up for grabs at the league finals, hosted by Hesperia. The top three wrestlers in each weight class advance to the Eastern Division championships at La Quinta on Feb. 15-16.

Last year, Hesperia advanced wrestlers in all 14 weight classes, with seven individual champions. ‘We’re hoping for the same success this year,’ Stidham said. ‘We think our lineup is as tough or tougher than last year’s.’

A potential showdown looms at 189, which features Hesperia’s Danny Reyes, ranked No. 2 in Southern Section, and Sultana’s David Moore, ranked No. 6.

-- Chuck Schilken, guest blogger

-- Image from www.amazon.com