State Meet final test for Moreno, Ayres
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From the unproven hype to an improbable run after injury, Newport Harbor High’s Xander Moreno has been through a whirlwind campaign.
The Sailors junior wrestler now heads to Bakersfield’s Rabobank Arena with the goal of placing on the state’s grand stage.
A transfer from Clovis North in the Tri-River League, Moreno might have as good an idea of who he will be facing as anyone. As an elite wrestling area, the Tri-River League produced seven individual state champions last year.
Moreno now enters the state tournament with an opportunity to bring honor to his new school and the Sunset League. He gets a manageable bracket, beginning the tournament with Los Angeles Fremont’s Emmanuel Zepeda.
The Pathfinders senior is the top-ranked 145 wrestler from the L.A. City Section, but Sailors Coach Dominic Bulone says that other sections would strike more fear into an opponent.
“To be fair, there is no really good draw in the state meet,” Bulone said of Moreno’s draw. “His first match is against the No. 1 kid in the L.A. City Section.”
“The L.A. City Section is basically twice as big as the Sunset League, in terms of number of teams. The best kid out of there, out of 15 schools, is not always the same as the top nine schools out of 350.”
If Moreno wins that match, he will very likely see the No. 2 overall seed in Jacob Wright of Dinuba.
There is formidable competition up and down the bracket. Fountain Valley’s Karson Ayres snuck into the state 145s field, capturing the final berth in the ninth-place match at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet on Saturday.
Ayres’ prize in making his first state meet appearance is a meeting with the tournament’s hometown favorite, Navonte Demison of Bakersfield. Demison won the 138s state title last year.
“If I were to have my choice, I would prefer not to face the defending state champion,” Bulone said. “To be in the state meet at all is quite an honor, just to be in that top 40 competing.”
Wrestlers were allowed to practice with athletes whose seasons had not ended. Moreno and Ayres did not practice together this week, owing primarily to precautionary measures taken by the Newport Harbor camp.
Moreno suffered a groin strain in his last match of the Masters. He engaged in light training early in the week, and the junior resumed drills at Wednesday’s practice.
History could be made at the state meet this year, as Clovis’ Justin Mejia (126s) will be attempting to become the second boys’ wrestler to win four CIF State championships.
At present, Bakersfield’s Darrell Vasquez (1999-2002) is the only one to have accomplished the feat.
Newport’s Fegan, Smith start off well
The track and field season kicked off with promise for two well-known commodities in Newport Harbor High’s boys’ program.
Seniors Ryan Fegan and Cole Smith brought home event wins at the Santa Margarita Eagle Invitational.
Fegan cleared 15 feet in the pole vault, winning the event by three feet. His opening mark leads Orange County, and it is second in the state to Redondo Union’s Tate Curran, who has cleared 16 feet, 3 inches.
“That is as slow as I plan on taking it this season, so it’s going to be exciting,” Fegan said at Tuesday’s practice.
The bar has been set high for pole vaulters in the Sunset League. Just last season, Marina’s Jett Gordon delivered a winning jump of 17-2 in the CIF-SS Division 2 Finals.
Gordon holds the 10th best clearance for a high school student in state history.
Sage Hill’s Alex Escalera cleared the bar at 14 feet, nine inches at the California Winter State Championships on Feb. 11.
In the throwing events of the Eagle Invite, Smith demonstrated his strength. His winning discus mark of 162 feet ranks first in the county. He was also second in the shot put at 55-7.
Happening This Weekend
CIF State Wrestling Tournament
Where: at Rabobank Arena, Bakersfield
When: Friday and Saturday
Fan Info: Wrestling begins at 9 a.m. on both days. The state finals will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday night. Parking is $10 per day. It is $40 to park an RV for the weekend.
Tickets (starting prices): Friday: Adults - $11; High school students/children/seniors - $8. Saturday (morning and afternoon): Adults - $12; High school students/children/seniors - $9. Saturday (evening): Adults - $13; High school students/children/seniors - $10.
CIF-SS Division 1A Girls’ Basketball Final
Who’s Playing: Huntington Beach (22-7) vs. Torrance Bishop Montgomery (20-9)
Where: at the Felix Event Center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University
When: Friday, 5 p.m.
Fan Info: General admission is $15. Tickets are $8 for students with school ID and children (ages 5-13). Parking is free at this venue.
ADHSHL Division 3 Playoffs, First Round
Who’s Playing: Huntington Beach (6-8-1-0) vs. Upland Christian Academy (5-8-1-0)
Where: at The Rinks Lakewood Ice
When: Saturday, 3:55 p.m.
Twitter: @ProfessorTurner
