Mater Dei wrestler Trevor Perez was in survivor mode in the early stages of the CIF-SS Masters Meet this weekend.
The junior dropped his first match of the double-elimination tournament and had to stay perfect Friday to come back for a second day at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario.
“I knew if I lost (again Friday), that I was going to go home,” he said. “That couldn’t happen. I came this far. I’m supposed to go to state. I wanted to go state so I had to work my way back.”
Perez again faced an end to his season Saturday, as he dropped down to the ninth-place mini-bracket in the morning.
With the top nine wrestlers in each weight class advancing to the CIF State Tournament in Bakersfield on March 7-8, Perez was able to extend his season with a pair of one-point victories, including a 5-4 triumph in the ninth-place match to book himself a spot in next week’s tournament.
In the finals against Desert Mirage’s Jake Ceja, Perez trailed entering the third period, scored an escape and takedown for a 3-1 lead. Later with the match tied, 3-3, Perez scored a late takedown and held on for the 5-4 victory.
“It was win or go home,” Perez said. “I lost in the morning. For me to come back and take ninth is big. I felt really bad after that match. Coach (Luis Renteria) talked to me and told me I needed to come back and take ninth for our team and for our program.”
If Perez would have won his first match Saturday, he would have had his spot in the state tournament sealed up. He finished 5-2 in the tournament.
“For him to finish out like he did is great,” Renteria said. “He did his job to come back and qualify.”
Woodbridge’s Scott Ha (113) and Fountain Valley’s Ben Madrid (195) also escaped in the ninth-place bracket.
Calvary Chapel led all county schools with five state qualifiers, including freshman Luke Troy, who was a finalist at 138 pounds. Calvary Chapel finished third in the team standings.
Servite, led by 182-pound finalist Johnny Beltran, and Fountain Valley both qualified four.
Northview of Covina led all schools with six qualifiers.
At the Girls State Tournament:
For a second consecutive season, Valencia’s Gabby Garcia proved to be the best. Garcia, who the title last year at 108 pounds, pinned her way to the title at the Visalia Convention Center in the 121-pound weight class.
Garcia, a sophomore, pinned Darlyn Khauv of Rialto in the finals.
Santa Ana’s Brenda Perez finished second at 150 pounds. Loara’s Maria Ahumada finished fourth at 101 pounds. Canyon’s Aleeah Gould was fifth at 111.
Godinez’s Brenda Hernandez placed eighth at 131, as did Santa Ana’s Claribel Estrada (170). Los Alamitos’ Kenady Beaudoin was fifth at 150.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
