The Santa Ana wrestling team took a big first step toward ending a drought that dates to 2003.
The Saints ended the first day of competition at the CIF-SS Southern Division Championships on Friday at Marina with 117.5 points. The closest team in the standings is Pioneer Valley of Santa Maria with 101.5.
“It would be nice to bring one (CIF title) back home to Santa Ana,” said Santa Ana coach Scott Glabb, whose team finished second in the championships in two of the past three years. “This has been a good group of kids that I’ve been following for the last four years and sticking by them, and they’ve put the effort and time in. … I think they deserve it, but you just don’t know what’s going to happen.”
The Saints will begin the second day with seven in the championship semifinals: Jose Mata (106 pounds), Ricardo Solorio (113), Ricardo Navarette (126), Miguel Ramos (132), German Prudencio (138), Joey Daniel (195) and Alex Blanco (220).
“This group is really focused,” Glabb said. “Today (Friday) we probably had six pins in the first round and another seven or eight in the second round. They’re focused and following the plan and so far it is working.”
Pioneer Valley has five in the semifinals.
The Saints have four alive in the consolation bracket: Anthony Reveles (120), Ed Bilezekchian (145), Christian Montes (152) and Ed Anguiano (heavyweight).
Marina’s Peter McCoy (152) had one of the stronger performances, winning two matches by fall and another by technical fall to advance to the semifinals.
The top five wrestlers in each weight division advance to next week’s CIF-SS Masters Meet at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario.
In the Inland Division:
Servite has the first-day lead at Temecula Valley High with 130.5 points. Calvary Chapel is in fifth with 102.5. The Friars will begin the second day with seven in the semifinals.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
