ONTARIO – Last week, Marina’s Ryker Coppa pinned his way to the 195-pound CIF title.
After the first day of the CIF-SS Masters Meet, Coppa is sticking with what is working.
The senior won his first three matches, all by fall, to guarantee himself a trip to next week’s CIF State Tournament and a spot in today’s semifinals at Citizens Business Bank Arena.
Coppa has won his last 14 matches by fall.
“I think I wrestled well. I’m putting a lot of the work that I put in during the season together,” Coppa said. “I’m accomplishing everything I’ve been trying to do.”
Coppa’s three victories came in the first period. He will face Robert Castro of Bloomington in the semifinals.
As a junior, Coppa finished sixth at Masters at 170 pounds.
“It is obvious that he’s head and shoulders better than he’s perceived,” Marina coach Chris Rasmussen said. “I think a lot of people underestimate him because he’s a light 195-pounder. You look at him on the mat and it looks like he’s the same size as everybody because he’s physically big. He’s an athlete.
“What’s happening right now is that he’s peaking at the right time. This is his fourth year wrestling and he’s used to handling his own bodyweight. A lot of positions he puts himself in are leverage positions and he just finds a way to put kids on their back.”
Wrestling resumes today at 10 a.m. The top nine wrestlers in each weight class advance to the state tournament March 6-7 in Bakersfield. The medal matches are scheduled for 2 p.m.
Servite and Fountain Valley lead the county teams with at least three state qualifiers. The Friars have Liam Cronin (106), Noah Blakley (126) and Michael Vasquez (182) in the semifinals.
The Barons have Andrew Morgan (170), Stone Escobedo (182) and Ben Madrid (220) in the semifinals.
Yorba Linda’s Abe Ochoa (heavyweight) went 3-0, winning all of his matches by fall to advance.
Sonora’s Russell Rohlfing (126) and Josh Kawaguchi (132) advanced to the semifinals.
The remaining list of state qualifiers includes: Dexter Viengvilay (Laguna Hills, 106), Ryan Gutierrez (Brea Olinda, 113), Johnny Knowles (Calvary Chapel, 132), Trevor Perez (Mater Dei, 138), Mike Marshall (San Clemente, 170) and Leangelo White (Western, 182)
There are 25 county wrestlers alive in the consolation bracket, including Esperanza’s Jacob Gunter, who went 3-0 in consolation, winning all three matches by fall. Loara’s Steve Ahumada (220) also went 3-0 after dropping to the consolation bracket.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
