Santa Ana Calvary Chapel Wins With Calavitta’s Help

STOCKTON — It was so close that only 2 1/2 points separated the teams going into the finals of the state wrestling championships at the University of the Pacific.

In front of 6,000 spectators at Spanos Center Saturday, Santa Ana Calvary Chapel, Union City James Logan and defending champion San Jose Independence battled it out to see who would be the No. 1 school in California high school wrestling.

And when it was all over, Calvary Chapel came away with the victory, beating Independence, 102.5-102. James Logan finished third with 100.5. This was the closest finish in the 24-year history of the tournament.

Although Calvary Chapel had many key match victories throughout the day, it was Joe Calavitta’s upset victory over Adam Coffing of Elk Grove in the 135-pound championship match that set the tone of the Eagles’ dramatic comeback.

With these two top-ranked wrestlers in the State going at it, it would be a rematch of the UC Davis Tournament earlier in the season in which defending champion and top-ranked Coffing beat second-ranked Calavitta, 7-0.

But for Calavitta, it was more than an individual title at stake, but team points which could make the difference between a first- or second-place team finish.

From the start, it was clear Coffing would not have his way with Calavitta, who went on the offensive, attacking Coffing.

While the lead went back and fourth, it was Calavitta’s takedown in the last minute to put him ahead 6-5. But with 30 seconds left, Calavitta was able to ride Coffing out for the win.

At 152 pounds, Ty Wilcox faced Ati Connor of Goleta Dos Pueblos. Trailing James Logan by two points after Calavitta’s victory, the Eagles needed a win by Wilcox, and his late takedown gave him a 5-4 victory.

It ensured a third state title for Calvary Chapel, which won in 1993 and ’94.