The Register’s All-County boys wrestling team.
FIRST TEAM
LUCIANO ARROYO
Calvary Chapel, So., 120
The Register’s boys wrestler of the year.
AARON NAGAO
Esperanza, Fr., 106
Nagao had an impressive season. He was first at five regular-season tournaments (El Dorado Invitational, Reno TOC, Cerritos TOC, Esperanza Holiday Classic and Battle for the Belt) and second at one (La Costa Canyon). Nagao won the Century League title and a CIF title. He was third at Masters and went 5-2 at the state tournament to finish fifth.
JOSE MATA
Santa Ana, Sr., 113
Mata opened the season by winning the Cossarek Classic. He was second at the Mann Classic and third at the ASICS SoCal Challenge. He went up to 120 and went 1-2 at the Doc Buchanan Invitational. Mata finished sixth at Five Counties. He captured the Golden West League title, and qualified for CIF, Masters and CIF State, where he finished ninth.
ELIJAH PALACIO
Calvary Chapel, Jr., 126
Palacio split the season between 120 and 126 pounds. At 120 pounds, he was first at the Cossarek Classic, Tournament of Champions and Nogales Super Champs. He was second at the Zinkin Classic and fourth at Battle for the Belt. Palacio won Orange Coast League, CIF-SS and Masters titles. He went 4-3 at the state tournament, finishing eighth.
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ALL-COUNTY WRESTLING
- Boys wrestler of the year: Luciano Arroyo, Calvary Chapel
- All-County boys wrestling: First team
- Wrestling co-coaches of the year: Trabuco Hills’ Mitthof, Munoz
- All-County boys wrestling: Second and Third teams
- Girls wrestler of the year: Aine Drury, Westminster
- Wrestling athlete of the week: Aaron Nagao, Esperanza
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ANTHONY LE
Laguna Hills, Sr., 132
Le, who is headed to Stanford, won the Carter Classic and finished sixth at the Zinkin Classic. He was first at the Coast View Conference finals and at CIF. He was a finalist at Masters, eventually finishing second. He finished the year by going 3-2 at the state tournament. This is his second consecutive year on the All-County first team.
ISAIAH MORA
Esperanza, Jr., 138
Mora jumped in the state rankings from 33 to 12 before the state tournament. He finished second at the El Dorado Invitational and La Costa Canyon Classic. Mora won the Esperanza Holiday Invitational, Century League finals and CIF Individuals. He was second at Masters and went 1-2 at the state tournament.
XANDER MORENO
Newport Harbor, Jr., 145
Moreno, a transfer from Clovis North, won the Ed Springs Classic and finished sixth at the John Glenn Tournament. He finished third in the Sunset League finals and at CIF. He was sixth at Masters and went 1-2 at the state tournament.
TROY MADRIGAL
Servite, Jr., 152
Madrigal opened the season with a third-place finish at the John Bright Memorial. He had three seconds (Clovis West Shootout, Mann Classic, Peoria Invitational) and two fifths (Sierra Nevada Classic and Five Counties). Madrigal won Trinity League and CIF titles. He was second at Masters and finished eighth at the state tournament.
SAM AZAR
Aliso Niguel, Sr., 160
Azar opened the year with a pair of titles at 170 pounds (Mater Dei Scott Davis Invitational, Ed Springs Classic). He went 3-2 at the Doc Buchanan Invitational and finished third at Five Counties. Azar won the Coast View Conference finals and captured a CIF title. He was a finalist at Masters and posted a 3-2 record at the state tournament.
JARED FERNANDEZ
Canyon, Sr., 170
Fernandez won titles at the Cossarek Classic, Mann Classic and Lancers Invitational. He was second at the Tournament of Champions and Raul Huerta Classic, and first at the Century League finals. He earned Upper Weight MVP honors at CIF, where he won the 170-pound title. He was ninth at Masters and went 3-2 at the state tournament.
GERARDO HERNANDEZ
Capistrano Valley, Jr., 182
Hernandez had an eighth-place finish at the Doc Buchanan Invitational. He was second at Five Counties and finished first at the Coast View Conference finals and CIF-SS Coastal Division Championships. He finished third at Masters. He won his first two matches at state and finished 2-2.
KYLE MARSHALL
San Clemente, Sr., 195
Marshall was ranked in the top five in the state all season. He won titles at the Battle of the Bay Duals, La Costa Canyon Classic, Ed Springs Classic, California Coast Classic and the San Clemente Rotary Invitational. He was third at Doc Buchanan. He won Coast View Conference finals and CIF Individuals. He was fourth at Masters and went 3-2 at the state tournament.
JOEY DANIEL
Santa Ana, Jr., 220
Daniel, who qualified for state tournament last year at 195 pounds, moved up this year. He won titles at the Cossarek Classic, Mann Classic and ASICS SoCal Challenge. His postseason run started with titles at the Golden West League finals, CIF and Masters. He won his first three matches at the state tournament and finished fourth with a 6-2 record.
LEVI BALL-BRYANT
Servite, Sr., Heavyweight
Ball-Bryant finished second at the John Bright Memorial, third at the Clovis West Shootout, first at the Mann Classic and third at the Peoria Invitational. He had solid performances at the Sierra Nevada Classic (4-2) and Five Counties (2-2). He won the Trinity League title and finished second at CIF. He was ninth at Masters and qualified for the state tournament.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@scng.com
