Wrestling: Southland showdowns could loom in state finals

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The CIF State wrestling finals could look a lot like the Southern Section Masters finals -- at least in two weight classes.

If Hesperia senior Eric Lopez beats Kyle West of El Dorado Hills Oak Ridge in the 135-pound semifinals, he could have another shot at El Modena senior Vinny Pisani, who beat Lopez, 5-3, in the Masters finals last weekend. Pisani faces Nick Fisher of Fresno Clovis West in the other 135-pound semifinal bout.

Similarly, Temecula Valley junior Patrick Martinez has a shot at a rematch with Santa Ana Calvary Chapel freshman Morgan McIntosh, who won in the 160-pound Masters finals, 7-1. Martinez will have to get past Steven Vasquez of Modesto Central Catholic in the 160-pound semifinals, while McIntosh needs to take care of Jason Welch of Walnut Creek Las Lomas.

There’s the possibility of two other all-Southern Section matchups in the state finals. South Hills senior Thomas Williams and Santa Fe senior Marcus Orona are on course for a 119-pound showdown and Santa Ana Calvary Chapel senior Taylor Warden and Downey Calvary Chapel senior Caleb Gerl could meet in the 189-pound championship match.

In addition to those eight wrestlers, the Southland will be represented in the championship semifinals by Northview’s Steven Salinas at 112, San Dimas’ Angel Garcia at 125, Irvine’s Scott Chene at 130, Northview’s Jesse Cruz at 145, Temecula Valley’s Jake Meredith at 171 and Norte Vista’s Willie Hernandez at heavyweight.

That means exactly half of the semifinal matches will feature Southern Section wrestlers.

A total of 43 wrestlers from the Southland (42 from the Southern Section and Reseda 189-pounder Nasar Mohammad from the City Section) still have a shot at placing at state. Temecula Valley and Hesperia each have four wrestlers in contention, while Northview and Santa Ana Calvary Chapel have three each.

Clovis is in first place in the team standings with 82.5 points. Temecula Valley leads the way for Southern Section teams, in sixth place.

-- Chuck Schilken, guest blogger

-- Image from www.wrestlingsbest.com.