The marquee match of the weekend was at 125 pounds, where two standing California state champion -- David Klingsheim of Liberty and Martin Gonzalez of Gilroy -- faced off for the second time in seven days. Last week, in the finals of the Doc Buchanon tournament, Klingsheim won 6-4 in overtime. This week, he got it done in regulation 11-5. With the score tied 3-3 going into the third and final period, Klingsheim remained confident.
"I felt I was better than him from our feet," Klingsheim said. "I knew I could get out and thought I could get another takedown."
Klingsheim did indeed score again from his feet, countering a wild counter to his shot which resulted in an impressive five-point move.
"I wasn't planning that (move) at all. It was something that I just fell into. It's not something I drill."
Klingsheim is expected to drop to 119 for the remainder of the season and was happy to beat Gonzales in their second match of the season. "We've been around each other for ten years. It can get tougher to wrestle the same opponent."
Klingsheim, ranked third in the country in his weight class by RevWrestling.com, has signed a letter of intent to wrestle at the University of Nebraska.
Poway High School won this year's event with seven placewinners and 162 points, but went 0-3 in the finals. With a sizeable number of Poway fans in the crowd, perhaps the most unpopular call of the night took place at 130 pounds when Henry Yorba, trailing by one, was in deep on a shot on Jose Mendoza of Selma HS. While seemingly improving position and nearing enough control to be awarded the takedown, the ref called a stalemate with only 16 seconds left in the match. This allowed Mendoza to hold on 3-2 for the victory. Yorba's finalist teammates didn't fare any better with Conrad Snell losing to Laguna Hills' Mitch Newcomer, 8-4, at 135 and Ian Daube losing to Cavalry Chapel's sophomore sensation Morgan MacIntosh, 9-6, at 171.
There was no shortage of third-period lead changes at 152, where Tyler Sheridan of De La Salle scored a takedown in the third period to go ahead of No. 1 seed TJ Belton of Central Catholic, 5-4. The advantage was short-lived as Belton managed to score a reversal with short time left on the clock to retake the lead and the victory.
"I was looking for an escape," Belton said," but the reversal was there, so I was like 'I'm gonna take it.'"
While several of the finals showed hints of bad blood between the competitors, Belton and Sheridan appeared friendly and illustrated a strong sense of sportsmanship before, during and after their match.
"We were at the Oklahoma duals together for like two weeks." Belton explained. "We bonded. I know him really well. I talk to him every time I see him."
Given the strong performances by both wrestlers, they could be talking during the state tournament.
The first two periods of the 140 final between No. 1 seed Vlad Dombrovskiy of Natomas and No. 2 seed Jonah Cruz of Bakersfield saw lots of action and scrambling but no points. The two tall and lean wrestlers had the leverage and smarts to prevent each other from earning a takedown in the first period then Dombrovskiy seemed to gain a small advantage after riding Cruz out in the second. However, midway through the third, Cruz seized a split-second opening to earn two quick nearfall points and then got into position to force a stalemate. Cruz tried to hold on for the win, but Dombrovskiy was very active on the bottom and earned a reversal to send the match into overtime.
Another wild scramble resulted in Cruz coming out on top and earning the sudden-victory win. During the flurry, Cruz said he was concentrating on meeting the criteria for a takedown. "I was thinking I've got to stay behind his arms. It's like the rulebook says if you're behind his arms, it's two points."
The danger of the positions that Cruz got into during the match were not lost on him, who came close to getting caught in a defensive fall more than once. "That goes through my head every time I roll across my back. I've just got to keep moving."
Finals Results:
103: Alex Cisneros (Selma) dec. Nick Babcock (Broomfield) 14-3
112: Alfonso Osuna (Brawley) dec. Courtland Hacker (Broomfield) 5-1
119: Jesse Delgado (Gilroy) dec. Chad Thornock (San Jacinto) 10-1
125: David Klingsheim (Brentwood Liberty) dec. Martin Gonzalez (Gilroy) 11-5
130: Jose Mendoza (Selma) dec. Henry Yorba (Poway) 3-2
135: Mitch Newcomber (Laguna Hills) dec. Conrad Snell (Poway) 8-4
140: Jonah Cruz (Bakersfield) dec. Vlad Dombroski (Sacramento Natomas) 4-2 OT
145: Taylor Hodel (Vacaville) dec. Cody Bollinger (Hesperia Sultana) 3-2
152: T.J. Belton (Modesto Central Catholic) dec. Tyler Sheridan (Concord De La Salle) 6-5
160: Stephen West (Buchanan) dec. Patrick Martinez (Temecula Valley) 4-3
171: Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana Calvary Chapel) dec. Ian Daube (Poway) 9-6
189: Ryan Loder (Granite Bay) dec. Danny Reyes (Hesperia) 5-1
215: Drew Muelman (Mountain View St. Francis) dec. Brian Schoene (Bakersfield) 6-1
Hwt: Jose Lopez (Norwalk John Glenn) def. Luis Barragan (Gilroy) Pin
Top 10 Teams:
1. Poway 162
2. Selma 151.5
3. Buchanan 144
4. Cavalry Chapel 117.5
5. Central Catholic 103.5
6. Gilroy 103.5
7. Vacaville 91.5
8. Broomfield (Colorado) 90.5
9. Laguna Hills 89
10. Lemoore 88.5
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