In this case, change is good.
A fourth qualifier has been added to the CIF-SS girls wrestling postseason. Now, the top eight in each weight class at each location will qualify for the CIF-SS Championships, creating a 32-wrestler bracket.
Tustin High will host the Central Qualifier, which is where all of the county wrestlers will be competing, on Feb. 7.
Last year, there were only two CIF qualifiers. Three were scheduled for this year, before a fourth was added recently.
“Judging by the number of girls at the tournaments, I think we do need it,” Santa Ana coach Tim Byers said. “I know I had twice the number of girls (318) at my tournament this year (Dec. 13).”
The other change will take place the following week, Feb. 13-14, at the CIF Championships. That tournament will be two days, instead of one. Roosevelt High of Eastvale will be host.
“It was too much wrestling in one day,” Byers said. “You had some girls wrestling seven or eight matches, and that’s too much wrestling in one day.”
The top eight wrestlers at the CIF Championships advance to the girls CIF State tournament on Feb. 27-28 in Visalia.
As for the Saints, Josahandy Moreno is ranked seventh in the Southern Section at 137 pounds. Anahi Moreno is eighth at 235.
“Some of the returners (from last year) have been doing well,” Byers said. “The first-year girls are struggling to place (in tournaments), but they’re showing improvement.”
Santa Ana competes today at the El Monte High Rumble in the Jungle, along with Aliso Niguel, Tustin, Magnolia and Kennedy.
UPDATE ON LEAGUE RACES
Laguna Hills and Trabuco Hills finished tied for the South Coast League title at 3-1. San Clemente, which defeated Laguna Hills on Tuesday night, and Dana Hills finished 2-2.
In the Crestview League, Villa Park is 2-0 and has clinched at least a share of the title. Yorba Linda and El Dorado are 1-1. Wednesday, Villa Park plays host to El Dorado and Yorba Linda visits El Modena.
Aliso Niguel clinched its first league title Thursday with a 51-21 victory over El Toro.
All of the county leagues, except the Orange and Academy, will compete in the CIF-SS Coastal Division for the CIF-SS Dual Meet Championships on Feb. 7 at Marina High.
Pairings will be released Feb. 5.
NOTES
Sixth-ranked Santa Ana plays host to fourth-ranked Trabuco Hills today at 6:30 p.m. The match is also Santa Ana’s alumni night. … Laguna Hills and San Clemente are hosting one-day tournaments today. … Calvary Chapel is competing this weekend in the Sam Boyd California Invitational in Morro Bay. … Servite’s Kyle Paterson (220 pounds) has committed to New York University.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
