Above: Northview’s Vincent Parra, top, beating Arroyo’s Jonathan Atherton in last week’s 106-pound final in the CIF-SS Southern Division individual championships, is one of 11 Vikings qualifiers at this weekend’s Masters Meet in Temecula. (Keith Birmingham / Staff Photographer)

If Northview does well at this weekend’s Masters, Vikings could have shot at school’s first state title, and first since South Hills pulled the feat in 1981

By Steve Ramirez, staff writer
It’s been 31 years since an area wrestling team won a CIF State championship.

Northview High School, trying to become the first since South Hills in 1981, could take a big step this weekend when the Vikings, fresh off two record-setting weekends, compete at the CIF-Southern Section Masters Meet, scheduled for today and Friday at Temecula Valley High School.

Competition begins at 10 a.m. each day, with the final rounds slated for 2-5 p.m. on Saturday. The top nine in each of 14 weight classes advance to the CIF State championships, scheduled for next weekend at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.

The story this weekend will be the Vikings, who with 11 qualifiers, six who won divisional titles last week, have a shot to compete for the state title if a bulk of the contingent, which includes No. 1 seeds Bryan Salinas (145 pounds) and Javier Arellano (152), advance. (To continue click thread)

“That’s never been done out of the Southern Section,” said Northview assistant coach Bobby Bellamy, whose Vikings won all 14 Valle Vista League titles and set a school record with the six divisional champions last week. “It would be huge if we could pull it off and be able to make a run (at the state championships).

“But you don’t want to get ahead of yourself. This is a very tough tournament, and we like to take it one match at a time and move forward.”

Salinas and Arellano lead the contingent after going 5-0 last weekend. Salinas had two wins by fall and one technical
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fall en route to the Southern Division title. Arellano was 5-0, with one win by fall and won four decisions by an average margin of 10 points.

The rest of Northview’s contingent is Vincent Parra (106), Eric Ochoa (113), Carlos Garcia (126), Tony Arellano (132), Daniel Valles (136), Steven Lopez (160), Eddie Bernal (182), Anthony Orozco (195) and Nick Auxier (heavyweight).

The area will have 49 competitors, including top seeds Salinas and Arellano and Santa Fe’s Joey Davis, who is ranked No. 1 in the state at 162. The senior, who won a state title at 152 last season, finished third at the Eastern Division championships after losing by default in the second round.

Davis still is considered a solid bet to win a state title.

Other area qualifiers are Santa Fe’s Nico Sanchez (106), Kioni Villalobos (113), Loucian Ponce (132), Daniel Contreras (136) and Dillon Crouch (152); Chino Hills’ Christian Martin (113), Kyle Claffey (145), Garrick Gurney (152) and Brody Goens (182); Rosemead’s Devin Ng (106), Ryan Maldonado (136) and Alberto Flores (145); Bishop Amat’s Andrew Olague (132), Idilio Sanchez (182) and Randall Varela (220); Ayala’s Joey Hamma (132) and Lucas Northrop (220); Arroyo’s Jonathon Atheron (106) and James Rivera (220); La Habra’s Elder Cruz (195) and Jacob Rosales (120); Montebello’s Nelson Lucha (160) and Mark Green (285); Schurr’s Nicholas Lucero (182) and David Avina (195); South Hills’ Kevin Kelly (113) and Trevor Behr (152); Walnut’s Ritchie Taira (113) and Michael Sill (132); Bonita’s Eddie Dominguez (152); Charter Oak’s Brandon Arrietta (220); Covina’s Martin Solario (152); Damien’s Michael Demerjins (145); Diamond Bar’s Nathan Pike (113); Rowland’s Mario Lopez (132); Wilson’s Oscar Alfaro (160) and West Covina’s Brad Ojala (170).

The list also features seven seeds, five of which are from Northview.

La Habra’s Cruz, the No. 2 seed at 195, is a good bet for a title after winning at the Southern Division last week. He was second at Masters at 215 last season.

Other challengers for a title this weekend include Parra, who is a No. 3 seed at 106; Valles, who is No. 3 at 136 and Bernal, who is No. 3 at 182.

“I think this team ranks right up there with the best we’ve ever had,” Bellamy said of his Northview squad. “But we still have some unfinished business.”

steve.ramirez@sgvn.com

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