Skip to content
Damian Calhoun. Sports Newsroom Assistant.

// MORE INFORMATION: Associate Mug Shot taken August 24, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

ONTARIO – Abe Ochoa said he’s ready for what’s ahead of him at this year’s CIF State Tournament. If his performance this weekend is any indication, then Yorba Linda’s heavyweight could have another productive Saturday.

Ochoa, who won a CIF title last weekend, won four matches by fall and then defeated Temescal Canyon’s David Eubanks, 3-1, in the final to clinch the heavyweight title at the CIF-SS Masters Meet at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Saturday.

The top nine wrestlers in each weight class advance to next week’s CIF State Tournament in Bakersfield.

Ochoa finished second at last year’s tournament and then went 2-2 at the state tournament.

——-

Related: O.C. qualifiers for CIF State wrestling tournament

——–

“Last year, I didn’t know what I could do,” Ochoa said. “This year, I have more feeling and knowing where I am and I have more control of my body. I’m wrestling better and getting used to what I can actually do.

“On the mat last year, I told myself no matter what I did, I still had this year. … This year I’m just going for it all. I know the end is coming, so I’m going to give it my all.”

He had pins in the second, third and first periods to advance to the final. He scored the first points of the match against Eubanks on a takedown and was able to protect the lead until the end of the match.

The key to Ochoa’s success this year, according to Coach Brian Fortenbaugh, came down to the heavyweight’s offseason dedication.

“Last year, it kind of took him the whole season until he was wrestling-ready,” Fortenbaugh said. “He wrestled year-round this year and he started this season wrestling-ready and competed from Day One.

“He really wants to make a run at that state podium and stand on top of it.”

In the most recent state rankings, Ochoa is ranked fifth. He’s the top wrestler in the Southern Section, as this weekend proved.

“I’m just going to go for it,” he said. “No matter what I have to do, win or lose.”

Noah Blakley (Servite, 126), Josh Kawaguchi (Sonora, 132), Andrew Morgan (Fountain Valley, 170) and Leangelo White (Western, 182) finished second at their respective weights.

Blakley helped give Servite the most qualifiers among county schools with five. Liam Cronin (106), Gordon Livermore (170), Michael Vasquez (182) and heavyweight VJ Leuta will be joining him.

Calvary Chapel had four state qualifiers, including freshman Elijah Palaco, who had to go through the ninth-place mini bracket to advance. Palacio won his ninth-place match, 5-3.

Fountain Valley had three, Morgan, Stone Escobedo (182) and Ben Madrid (220).

Canyon’s Ethyn Ewing (132), Santa Ana’s Gil Gutierrez (138), El Dorado’s Steven Castillo (145) and Irvine’s Armon Fayyazi (170) all qualified through the ninth-place bracket.

Ochoa, Ewing and Castillo were joined by Brea Olinda’s Ryan Gutierrez (113) and Foothill’s Mario Galvez (220) to give the Century Conference five state qualifiers.

University heavyweight John Farah finished eighth, making him the first state qualifier from the school since 1999.

Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com