Troy wins tourney with team effort
BREA – The Troy wrestling team didn't come away with any first-place medals at the Ed Spring Classic at Brea Olinda High on Saturday.
But the Warriors did walk off with a large trophy.
Troy had nine wrestlers place among the top eight in their weight classes, which was good enough to take home the team championship at the 42-team tournament.
Troy finished with 181.5 points, edging Crespi of Encino (179.5). Chino Hills (156) was third, Brea (128) fourth and El Dorado (127) fifth.
The team title is the second is as many weeks for the Warriors, who won the 10-team Magnolia Duels last weekend.
"The guys are more worried about the team than individual (accomplishments)," Troy coach Mike Thomas said. "They are fun to coach. ... I don't have to kick them out of the wrestling room."
Paul Yoo of Cypress was selected upper weight MVP after two pins and a technical fall en route to his first-place finish at 182 pounds.
Yoo defeated Troy's Christian Cabrera, 19-4, in the championship match
Yoo, a two-time state qualifier, said his performance is one more step toward returning to the state tournament. He finished sixth in the state at 189 last year.
On dropping down to 182, Yoo said, "It's perfect for me. ... It was better for me to go down."
Other county winners included: Cruz Merrit (120 pounds) of Dana Hills, Sunny Hills' McAndrew de Castro (126), Gino Roman (132) of El Dorado, Sonora's Micah Macias (171), Loara's Edguardo Cardenas (285) and Colin Navickas (160) and Tyler Smith (220) of Marina.
Contact the writer: lponsi@ocregister.com
