Wrestling: CdM outnumbers Estancia

Steve Virgen

CORONA DEL MAR - Only 48 seconds into a 215-pound wrestling match,

Corona del Mar High’s Dan Ornguze applied his trademark headlock on a

stunned Nathan Thaler from Estancia.

Twenty-three seconds later, Ornguze pinned Thaler as Sea Kings Coach

Gary Almquist stretched his arms to the sky, as if to signal a field

goal, and smiled.

CdM, mirroring the quiet, yet potentially explosive demeanor of

Ornguze, ignited for a 59-16 Pacific Coast League victory over the

visiting Eagles Wednesday.

CdM (8-10, 2-1 in league) won by forfeit in half the 14 matches and

collected four other victories to take the inside track on a second-place

finish in the PCL dual-meet season.

“Danny is a very quiet, nice kid,” Almquist said of Ornguze. “The

sport goes against his nature. But, he goes after it. We wanted to test

his heart. He responded.”

Ornguze had wrestled at 189 pounds all season, including a victory by

pin Tuesday against Newport Harbor.

He bumped up especially for Thaler who is regarded as the PCL

favorite.

After they battled for position, Ornguze shot and strapped on the

headlock. So tight is the grip, Almquist nicknamed the hold, “The Ornguze

(pronounced orn-goo-zee).” Ornguze improved his record to 13-3.

CdM junior Steve Shipman also moved up a weight class from 215 to

heavyweight and earned a 7-2 decision over Devon Bowling. Shipman scored

a takedown in each period and broke for an escape with 1:19 remaining.

The Eagles (6-7, 2-2) did not bring a full squad because, Co-Coach

Steve Perez said, some Eagles had insufficient grades or were injured.

“A lot has to do with (new coaches) coming on the scene,” Perez said

of himself and Co-Coach Matt Atilano. “And, (we’re) trying to set new

ground rules and not put up with a lot of the (trash) that the younger

kids come in and do. So, it really has depleted our team as a whole.”

Estancia collected wins from Luis Valdes (103 pounds), Victor Carmona

(125) and Jeremy Valdes (135).

Before Luis Valdes began his match he already had a bloody nose from

warmup routines. He built an 8-0 lead in the first period over Cory Case.

Luis Valdes then extended his lead to 13 after a near-fall with 1:05

remaining in the second. With 32 seconds left, he scored an escape and

won by technical fall, 17-2.

Carmona also scored a technical fall when he beat Jeremy Goebel, 18-3.

Jeremy Valdes won by pin.

CdM’s Jeremy Warner (112) and Ben Inouye (130) also picked up

victories. Warner won by decision, 11-3. And, Inouye did the same with an

8-0 result.

Sea Kings Brian Freedman (119), Ben Wynkoop (140), Anthony Trankiem

(145), Blake Hacker (152), Tripps Moore (160), Ryan Green (171), Erik

Fredricksen (189) won by forfeit.

CdM will host Northwood Monday and Estancia will be at the Edison

Tournament Saturday as both teams prepare for the PCL Finals at CdM on

Feb. 3.