Wrestling: San Marino wins 2015 CIF-SS Masters title

Zander Wick, from San Marino, celebrates after defeating Corona Santiago's Jeremy Thomas during their 145 pound match Saturda at the CIF-SS Master Meet at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario February 28, 2015. (Will Lester/Staff Photographer)

Zander Wick, from San Marino, celebrates after defeating Corona Santiago’s Jeremy Thomas during their 145 pound match Saturda at the CIF-SS Master Meet at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario February 28, 2015. (Will Lester/Staff Photographer)

By Stephen Ramirez

ONTARIO —
San Marino High School had big expectations entering the 2015 wrestling season.
The Titans lived up to that billing Saturday.
San Marino, a few years removed from being the doormat in the Rio Hondo League, is the best in Southern California after taking the CIF-Southern Section Masters title in dominating fashion at Citizen’s Business Bank Arena.

The Titans, led by two-time Masters champion Zander Wick (145 pounds) scored four individual championships and had six qualifiers to the CIF State championships en route to a first-place finish, St. John Bosco was second with Northview third. The Titans and Vikings each qualified six competitors to next weekend’s state championships, scheduled for Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.
The other individual champions for San Marino were Zander Silva (113), Julian Flores (132) and Luke Troy (152).
“We did really well,” said Wick, who won at 126 last season. “It was awesome. It’s amazing, because three years ago we weren’t even league champions, we were like last in our league. We got good coaches to come in and we got a lot better.

“Nobody would have thought back then we could come in and take first at Masters. It’s great.”
The rest of the area had a pretty solid day as well, with six champions. The other two were Northview’s Richie Casillas (120) and Ricky Padilla (160). The area qualified 21 to next week’s state championships.

The other area qualifiers were Montebello’s Nico Gomez (103, fifth); Bishop Amat’s Eddie Flores (103, seventh) and Nigel Ruiz (145, fourth); San Dimas’ David Gonzalez (113, second); Sonora’s Russell Rohlfing (126, third) and Josh Kawaguchi (132, second); Northview’s Andres Hooper (126, sixth), Andres Estrada (132, fourth), Joe Dominguez (145, third) and Roger Arce (170, fifth); California’s Richard Pocock (132, fifth); San Marino’s Evan Wick (138, second) and Aaron Padilla (160, third); Charter Oak’s Antonio Zavala (152, seventh) and Damien’s Patrick Sanchez (285).

Zander Wick was one of two from the area to repeat as Master champions. He was joined by Padilla, who won at 152 last season.
Wick, ranked No. 3 in the state, beat No. 2 Jeremy Thomas, of Corona Santiago, 7-2. He led 3-2 late getting a takedown and near-fall to win by 5.
“My match was very tough,” Wick said. “He had me on a single leg, and I can’t remember what I did but I was able to put him on his back to win 7-2.”
Padilla was steady in beating Hemet’s Caleb Wilson, 3-0.
“It’s a great feeling to be two-time Masters champion,” Padilla said. “Not too many people have done it. It’s a tough section, so its real good.”

GIRLS STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
It was mission accomplished for Arroyo High School’s Jackie Quinones Saturday.
The senior had a season-long of goal of winning CIF-Southern Section and CIF state wrestling titles this season. She accomplished the former two weeks ago and finished off the aspiration by winning at 189 pounds at the CIF State championships at Visalia Convention Center.
Quinones’ title quest was the area highlight, which also included Northview finishing second for the second consecutive season.
The Vikings, who won a state title in 2013, had three competitors score a top-eight medal. They were Izzy Valles (137, second), Deidra Valles (150, fifth) and Azusenna Molina (170, second).
The area had 10 athletes win medals. The others were Walnut’s Alyssa Barredo (101, second) and Mia Dow (121, fourth); California’s Nadia Escamilla (111, sixth); West Covina’s Jennifer Lopez (116, seventh); Arroyo’s Lesly Ramirez (150, sixth) and San Dimas’ Daishea Jaime (121, second).

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Next stop for St. Paul girls basketball? CIF-SS 4A championship game

SANTA FE SPRINGS >> The St. Paul High School girls basketball team will have a second chance in the last three years to bring home a CIF Southern Section title.
After losing in the finals two seasons ago, the Swordsmen, behind a season-high 34 points from guard Adrianna Gonzalez, defeated visiting Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) of Canoga Park, 64-45, Saturday night in a Division 4A semifinal and will play for the school’s first championship next week.
St. Paul (19-13) will play top-seeded Fairmont Prep of Anaheim, a 66-52 winner over Marlborough, for the title. The game time and location will be announced on Monday.
“For our players it’s just awesome,” said St. Paul coach Robert Miller, who is in his 11th year at the helm. “I love the fact that Clarissa Perez and Adrianna Gonzalez are playing in their second finals.”

— John Sherrard

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CIF-SS Boys Basketball: La Mirada cruises into semifinals; Sonora advances to finals

La Mirada's Kendall Lauderdale reaches up to tap the ball in on Friday, February 27, 2015 at La Mirada High School. The La Mirada Matadores boys basketball team host the Savanna Rebels on Friday, February 27, 2015 at La Mirada High School. (Photo Correspondent by Shilah Montiel/ Whittier Daily News)

La Mirada’s Kendall Lauderdale reaches up to tap the ball in on Friday, February 27, 2015 at La Mirada High School. The La Mirada Matadores boys basketball team host the Savanna Rebels on Friday, February 27, 2015 at La Mirada High School. (Photo Correspondent by Shilah Montiel/ Whittier Daily News)

LA MIRADA 77, SAVANNA 47

LA MIRADA >> La Mirada High School’s chase for its first CIF-Southern Section boys basketball title never looked easier.
The Matadores, after beating its first two playoff opponents by an average of 35 points, was again on cruise control on Friday, scoring a 77-47 victory over Savanna in a Division 2A quarterfinal game.
Kendall Lauderdale scored 28 points and Vittorio Reynoso-Avila had 20 as La Mirada improved to 26-4 and will play at Compton, a 59-52 winner over Righetti, in Tuesday’s semifinals. It’s the Matadores second consecutive trip to the divisional final four. Savanna finished 12-20.

La Mirada coach Bryce Jones: “It’s all about the players. We have talented players. I’m blessed with a great staff. Talented players make plays and win games. This school hasn’t had a ton of success outside (the run with) Derek Williams, so for us to get the semifinals in back-to-back years and win league, it’s special. I want the guys to enjoy it, but we have to get back to work tomorrow, watch the film on Compton and get ready to play.”

La Mirada’s Kendall Lauderdale: “I’m just came out with the mind-set that I had to go beast mode against them.”
— Stephen Ramirez
DIVISION 3AA
SEMIFINALS
SONORA 76 DIAMOND RANCH 56

Josh Rodriguez scored a game-high 21 points and enior forward Ben Rico had 17 as the Raiders advanced to the finals for the second consecutive season. They will face Gahr, which beat Bonita, in the finals next week.

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CIF-SS Boys Soccer: Cal’s perfect season comes to an end in 2-1 loss to Sunny Hills


By Stephen Ramirez
FULLERTON — California High School enjoyed one of the better seasons in area boys soccer history this winter. But that meant little on Friday.
Miguel Tapia and Nick Vasquez had second-half goals and No. 4 seed Sunny Hills ended the Condors’ season with a 2-1 victory in a CIF-Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal game.
The host Lancers, who got five saves from Nicholas Pedraza, improved to 20-3-2 and advanced to face La Quinta, a 3-2 winner over top seed Millikan, in Tuesday’s semifinals. California, which got its lone goal from Alex Preciado, finished 22-1.


California coach Ivan Todorovic: “We played well today. Maybe (Sunny Hills) wanted it more than us in the second half, but I still think we’re the better team. I think we deserved to advance to the next round. They got it at the end of the game, which was unfortunate for us. But I also want to congratulate my boys. This was the best season in the history of the school, and I’m proud of them.”

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