TUSTIN – The Fountain Valley wrestling team entered the Asics SoCal Challenge with nine wrestlers competing.
Saturday, more than half (five) advanced to the finals, with Karson Ayres (126) and Andrew Morgan (170) winning titles, helping the Barons claim the overall team title with 205.5 points to conclude the two-day tournament at Tustin High.
Blake Vasquez (160), Stone Escobedo (182) and Ben Madrid (195) finished second at their weights.
“I thought we did really well,” Morgan said. “We lost a few close ones, but we fought in every match and we were in it.”
Ayres’ victory came after he trailed 6-3 in the second period. He rallied to take an 8-6 lead before winning by fall.
“He had a great scramble and put the kid on his back and he kept battling back and ended up pinning the kid. That was a huge match for him,” Fountain Valley coach Brad Woodbury said of Ayres.
Morgan defeated Marina’s Cameron Gorman, 11-3, in the 170-pound final.
Woodbury said that there are things to be gained from the losses that occurred in the finals.
“We have to get a little tougher,” Woodbury said. “They knew we were in the lead in the tournament and they were happy five guys were in the final and I think we were a little relaxed.
“We have to get a little mean. We’re kind of too nice sometimes.”
This was Escobedo’s first tournament of the year after being out because of a knee injury. Having him back in the lineup will certainly boost the Barons’ chances for both Sunset League and CIF-SS titles.
“I know he’s a little bummed about finishing second, but there is still a long season ahead of us,” Woodbury said. “It is going to be a huge help having him back.
“It is a good win. We went up to northern California (for two tournaments) and we were placing top 10, so it is nice to come to home territory and win a tournament.
David Galdamez placed eighth at 138 for the Barons.
Calvary Chapel finished second, but led the tournament with the most individual champions, with Elijah Palacio (106), Christian Claudio (132) and Johnny Knowles (138) all winning their respective weights. Calvary Chapel had six medalists.
Trabuco Hills and Santa Ana were third and fourth, respectively. The Mustangs led the entire field with eight individual medalists, including champions Matt Roxas (120) and Lucas Howa (160).
Loara, Foothill, Yorba Linda and Irvine all finished in the top 10 in the standings.
Andrei Martinez (Beckman, 113), Steven Ahumada (Loara, 220) and Yorba Linda heavyweight Abe Ochoa were the other individual champions from the county.
Ahumada, who is the top-ranked wrestler in the county at 220, defeated Mario Galvez of Foothill, who is ranked second, 3-1.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
