NORWALK – If last year saw Yorba Linda’s Abe Ochoa in the role of the hunter, he’s in a different position this season.
Entering this week, Ochoa was ranked No. 1 in the county and Southern Section and fourth in the state at heavyweight.
The target on his back might grow larger at each tournament, but again, he proved to be worth the accolades.
Ochoa won four of his five matches by fall, including over David Zavala of Lakewood in the finals to wrap up the title at the Tournament of Champions, Saturday at Cerritos College.
“I see every person as another challenge,” Ochoa said. “No matter how hard or easy they might be, I never underestimate anyone.”
Ochoa got out to an early lead in the finals with the first takedown in the second period. After scoring an escape in the second, he added another takedown for a 5-0 lead and eventually the victory by fall.
The only moment of the tournament where Ochoa didn’t appear to be in control came in the semifinals when he allowed a takedown and gave up near fall points, before winning 9-5.
“I let my guard down,” he said. “I’m not a normal heavyweight. I wrestle a little bit quicker and take more shots.
“I like wrestling taller guys because I can get more shots and I find them easier to wrestle. I think I had a good tournament. I can work on some stuff. I know what I have to do to get better.”
The Sonora tandem of Russell Rohlfing (126) and Josh Kawaguchi (138) were the other county wrestlers to win titles. Rohlfing defeated Kameron Morones (Paso Robles), 11-3, in the finals.
“His confidence is so high and it has taken him far this year,” Sonora coach David Carrizosa said of Rohlfing.
Kawaguchi was supposed to wrestle at 132, but couldn’t make the weight. He went up one class and wrapped up the title with a 2-0 victory over Poway’s Manny Lair.
“I thought it was great,” Carrizosa said of Kawaguchi’s finals match. “He saw the kid earlier and he had a game plan going in and did what he had to do. He scored early and wrestled hard from there and smart.”
The Raiders had the best finish for any county team, finishing in eighth place. Villa Park was ninth, with El Dorado coming in 11th.
Dickie Brown (Los Alamitos, 160), Michael Ramos (Villa Park, 170) and El Dorado teammates Angel Verduzco (182) and Andrew Ramos (220) were finalists at their respective weights, eventually finishing second.
The Golden Hawks led all county schools with four medalists
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
