Dos Pueblos’ Nick Wagner and San Marcos’ Jordan Bishop were respectively named MVPs for the upper and middleweight divisions and can now call themselves Channel League wrestling champions.
Both were crowned for the first time at Buena High School on Saturday, where the Channel League wrestling championships were being held all day.
Wagner, seeded No. 3 in the heavyweight class, defeated a two-time league champ from Ventura to earn his crown.
Bishop, a 145-pounder, pinned his opponent in 2 minutes and 12 seconds in the final for his second pin of the day.
San Marcos’ Zach Belway (171 lbs.) and Tyler Mallard (135) became two-time league champions.
The Chargers also got league titles from Chuy Lopez (125), Mario Elias (130) and Joseph Story, who beat out San Marcos’ Julian Lake in the 189-pound final.
Also on the line on Saturday were individual berths to CIF. The top three from each weight class qualified.
Dos Pueblos pinned down 12 spots and San Marcos nine. The Royals have four alternates (those that finished fourth on the day) and the Chargers one.
Both Dos Pueblos coach Anthony Califano and San Marcos coach Tony Becerra were thrilled that the CIF Individuals – taking place on Feb 21 – are in Oxnard this year at Pacifica High School.
“It’s nice to have it close to town and hopefully we can get some local support,” pitched Becerra.
Channel League team-champion Ventura and runner-up Dos Pueblos will also compete in next Saturday’s team CIF tournament.
A scary moment came for the Chargers when their leading wrestler, Connor Dorais, was taken by ambulance to the hospital after being injured in the finals of the 160-pound class. While Dorais checked out okay, what made it worse was that the referees admittedly missed an illegal slam ruling on the move that hurt Dorais.
At that point Dorais held a 4-2 lead but instead took an injury default.
Califano vehemently protested when he returned from the hospital but to no avail.
Dorais is expected to compete again at Individuals in two weeks.
DOS PUEBLOS RESULTS
103 Anthony Serena, 3
112 Shannon Dixon, 2
119 Harrison Solomon, 2
125 Chuy Lopez, 1
130 Mario Elias, 1
135 David Alvarez, 4
140 Lucas Iorio, 2
145 Weston Soto, 3
160 Connor Dorais, 2
171 Abraham Lizama, 3
189 Joseph Story, 1
215 Anthony Yescas, 2
285 Nick Wagner , 1, mvp
SAN MARCOS RESULTS
105 Michael Martins, 4
112 Carlos Medina 3
119 Felipe Roman, 3
125 David Billesbach, 4
135 Tyler Mallard 1
140 Jason Stevens, 3
145 Jordan Bishop, 1 (mvp)
152 Ethan Davis, 3
160 Loius Giroux, 3
171 Zach Belway, 1
189 Julian Lake, 2
Heaveyweight Urbina, 4
