Ahmadi finishes strong

When Corona del Mar High wrestler Bijan Ahmadi finished sixth in the CIF Southern Section Southern Division individual tournament last Saturday, it marked the third consecutive season the Sea Kings had a wrestler place at CIF.

Ahmadi’s sixth-place finish came in the 152-pound weight class at at Westminster High.

The senior went 4-3 in seven matches last Friday and Saturday, but even his losses were impressive in the stacked weight class. Ahmadi, who was unseeded going into the tournament, narrowly lost in the quarterfinals, 4-3, to No. 2 seed Jake Meredith of Temecula Valley ? ranked No. 8 in the state ? on Friday.

Not bad for a guy who suffered a shoulder injury in the season-opening Newport Harbor-Corona del Mar Tournament that kept him out of action for more than a month.

Ahmadi said he didn’t get fully healthy until the end of the season, when he returned for the San Clemente Tournament. As luck would have it, Ahmadi got poked in the eye, went to the hospital and missed most of the tournament.

“I had some blurred vision, but it was fine,” Ahmadi said.

Ahmadi was back for the Pacific Coast League finals, where he took third place and qualified for the CIF individual tournament

“I credit good coaching and being healthy,” Ahmadi said. “It felt great to place, I thought I could do it, but it was tough after a year off.”

His sophomore year, Bijan followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Mark, and went to Hawaii to attend the Hawaii Preparatory Academy. His brother, who was on the school’s wrestling team, helped get Bijan interested and he joined the team, eventually making it to the Hawaii State Tournament.

“I just went out for it,” Ahmadi said. “I like working out and staying in shape.”

Ahmadi came back to Corona del Mar as a junior, but had to sit out the wrestling season as a transfer student from a preparatory school. He joined the team his senior year.

When Corona del Mar went 4-4 to finish fifth in the nine-team, two-day Newport Harbor-Corona del Mar Tournament to open the season, Ahmadi went undefeated the first day before suffering a shoulder injury.

“He’s a leader by example. He’s always early and he helps clean up,” Corona del Mar Coach Gary Almquist said of Ahmadi’s practice habits. “He’s a hard worker.”

Almquist said Ahmadi keeps it simple on the wrestling mat and doesn’t try to do more than he knows he’s capable of.

“He’s very strong. He sticks to the basics,” Almquist said. “He’s a very smart wrestler.”

What does Ahmadi think is the key to his success as a wrestler?

“I don’t know, good technique,” he said. “And I guess heart.”

Although Ahmadi’s wrestling days are more than likely behind him, Almquist said he sees a bright future for him.

“He’s probably done with wrestling now. He’ll probably surf and be a doctor,” Almquist said. “He comes from a good, solid family and has good values. That’s what makes him so enjoyable to be around”

The Bijan Ahmadi File

Hometown: Corona del Mar

Height: 5-foot-10

Weight: 152

Sport: Wrestling

Position: 152-pound weight class

Coach: Gary Almquist

Favorite food: Cheeseburgers

Favorite movie: “Bali High”

Favorite athletic moment: “Probably making it to state my sophomore year, my first year of wrestling.”

Week in review: Placed sixth in the 152-pound weight class at a CIF Southern Section Southern Division Individuals meet last Saturday despite not being seeded.dpt-maleathlete25.IMGGraphicInfoKE1OC4V820060225KE1OC4V8No Captiondpt.25-aow-ahmadi-CPhotoInfo2D1OBNRI20060225iv7t9iknDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)