Santa Ana Hopes Pinned

STOCKTON —  Santa Ana’s drive toward a state title came to a halt Saturday as the Saints’ two top wrestlers were unable to advance to the championship finals of the state championships at the University of Pacific’s Spanos Center.

In unexpected outcomes, seniors Jose Najera (112 pounds), a 1998 state runner-up, and Jose Leon (119) lost their semifinal matches. In addition, Santa Ana lost three wrestlers in Saturday’s consolation rounds, which reduced its scoring potential for the remainder of the tournament.

As a result, the Saints, who were in second on Friday, finished fourth.

Poway won the title, which was settled in the last match of the night as heavyweight Fred Fong of Pomona outlasted Ben Fox of Clovis Buchanan to win in double overtime and give Poway a two-point edge (84.5) over second-place Hughson. Clovis was third with 69 points.

Nevertheless, Santa Ana had the best finish in the school’s history with 67.5 points.

The Saints scored with two third-place finishes. Steve Avalos, at 145 pounds, gave the Saints some much-needed points when he pinned Kenneth Cook of Fremont American in 4 minutes 40 seconds.

“That was a big win for us,” Coach Scott Glabb said. “It put us right there with Brethren Christian, but without our guys in the finals, it made a big difference.”

Leon also took third, defeating Ricky Garcia of Santa Fe Springs Santa Fe, 8-4. Najera finished fifth, defeating Phillip Marquez of Bakersfield Foothill, 5-2.

Brethren Christian came to the tournament with only three wrestlers. However, the Warriors ended the tournament with a respectable 65 points, a fifth-place finish and a champion in Mike Simpson in the 119-pound class.