BOYS WRESTLING
Ben Madrid qualified for the CIF State Tournament last year at 195 pounds. If he’s going to get there this year, it will be at 220 pounds.
After competing at 195 for the majority of this season, Madrid made the move up to 220 for the Sunset League Finals. He was first in league and also at CIF last weekend.
The move he said, fits him.
“I feel like I have a better advantage at 220, because they’re (opposition) so much slower and they wrestle a different style,” he said. “Just like (Nick) Nevills (of Clovis) was wrestling heavyweights, he was so much quicker and so much more technical, that was why I went to 220.”
Madrid said the cut to get to 195 pounds was tough. He said he had to cut 10 pounds a week. He added that he feels much better now.
The competition shifts this weekend to the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario for the CIF-SS Masters Meet. Wrestling begins at 10 a.m. Friday and resumes at the same time Saturday. The top nine at each weight class will advance to the CIF State Tournament.
Servite leads the entire field with 13 qualifiers entering this weekend. Temecula Valley sent 13 to Masters in 2008. Several teams Santiago of Corona (2013), Centennial of Corona (12) and Laguna Hills (2007 and 2008) sent 12.
– DAMIAN CALHOUN
GIRLS WRESTLING
The girls CIF State Tournament is also this weekend, with the wrestling beginning Friday at the Visalia Convention Center at 9 a.m. Wrestling resumes Saturday at 9, with the finals set for 6 p.m.
A complete list of county wrestlers competing, can be found at ocvarsity.com.
– DAMIAN CALHOUN
BOYS SOCCER
Edison defender Taylor Kane and Santa Margarita forward Jake Fisher appear on the Topdrawersoccer.com Winter All-America watch list.
Their performances in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs are proof that they are worthy of the honor.
Kane finished with a goal in the Chargers’ 3-0 victory against Mission Viejo. He also helped Edison post its third consecutive shutout.
Fisher didn’t score Santa Margarita’s game winner against Huntington Beach on Friday, but he was the catalyst for the Eagles up top, creating numerous chances throughout the game against the Oilers. He had two shots glance off the top of the crossbar, the first coming off a half volley in the 35th minute and the second coming off a 30-yard line drive in the 48th.
His shot late in the second half required Chris Brennan to make a one-handed sliding save for Huntington Beach.
Santa Margarita coach Wade Fraser said Fisher played the majority of the season with a “bad ankle” and a hip flexor injury. but now, Fisher is finally healthy.
“And you are seeing what he is capable of. What he did all of last year, he is doing now,” Fraser said of the Cal State Fullerton-bound striker, who scored 12 goals this season despite the injuries. “He couldn’t be doing it at a better time for us.”
The Eagles will play host to Santa Barbara in the second round on Wednesday while the Chargers will play host to second-seeded Warren of Downey, which is unbeaten in its last 20 games, outscoring its opponents, 31-7 during that span.
– DAMIAN DOTTORE
FOOTBALL
Dana Hills all-league junior linebacker Corey Selenski (6-3, 225) has enrolled at JSerra, his father, Guy, said in an e-mail Monday.
Selenski racked up 100 tackles last season and was a first-team all-South Coast League selection for the Dolphins.
– DAN ALBANO
