ORANGE – Depending on your perspective, the Servite wrestling team is either halfway to another impressive showing in a tournament or already there.
One week after a second-place finish at the Clovis West Shootout, the Friars kicked off the first day of the Mann Classic with 14 wrestlers combining to go 34-0 and advancing to the semifinals in their weight divisions at Santiago Canyon College.
The Friars posted 203 points, leading second-place Southridge of Oregon by 91 points. The tournament resumes Saturday at 10 a.m.
“I thought we wrestled tough today,” Servite coach Alan Clinton said. “We came out to win, stayed after people and I thought they did a really solid job.”
At Clovis, the Friars had 11 in the semifinals, but they had a rough semifinal round, leading to their second-place finish.
“That’s one thing we focused on this week after we got back from Clovis is being solid, staying after them and proving that we belong,” Clinton said.
Friday, 14 wrestlers won at least two matches during the first day. Matt Rodriguez (113) won all three of his matches by fall.
Wolfgang Bernal (132), Troy Madrigal (138), JJ Reed (145), Angel Cordova (152) and Kevin Vidal (160) also went 3-0.
Last year, the Friars had 11 medalists and finished with 239 points to win the tournament.
The Servite B team again showed its strength, finishing the first day in second place with 107.5 points. There are two “B” team wrestlers in the semifinals and five alive in consolation
“That’s a solid group too,” Clinton said. “The competition is what makes us tough and so solid. There’s a tradition factor to keep after each other and to make each other better.”
One of the better first day performances belonged to Calvary Chapel’s Morris Wilner at 152 pounds. Wilner won two matches by fall and another by technical fall to advance to the semifinals.
Wilner will be joined by his teammate Johnny Knowles (138) in the semifinals.
Foothill has a pair in the semifinals, Kyle Hackett (113) and Mario Gomez (220).
One of the semifinal matches at 195 pounds will feature Servite’s Parker Saltzman, ranked third in the county, against top-ranked Ryker Coppa of Marina.
Cameron Gorman is another semifinalist for Marina.
Laguna Hills will begin the second day in fifth place.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
