ROUNDUP : Canyon’s Padgett Wins a Title at Wrestling Meet

Matt Padgett of Canyon High thought it was funny.

Sure, he could laugh after he had defeated Ross Funchess of Poway to win the 162-pound weight class Saturday at the Five Counties Invitational at Fountain Valley High.

But he looked concerned as he took the mat before the match. Padgett, 5-feet-7, stared up at Funchess, who stood at least four inches taller and normally wrestles at 171 pounds.

“I always have trouble with the tall guys,” Padgett said afterward, laughing.

In the end, Funchess’ height wasn’t much of an advantage and Padgett won easily, 13-3, for his first Five Counties title in three tries.

“I wanted to win it once,” said the senior, who was second as a junior and fourth as a sophomore.

In most seasons, a victory at Five Counties usually makes a wrestler a favorite for the CIF meet in March, and that fact was on Padgett’s mind after his victory.

“I think (winning) this time makes this a stepping stone to the State meet for me,” he said. “They say this is as tough or tougher than the State meet.”

It turned out to be a very difficult meet for Orange County wrestlers. Padgett was the only county championship qualifier. No county team placed in the top 10.

Poway of the San Diego Section, which placed six in the finals, won the team title with 206 points. Clovis of the Central Section, the defending State champion, was second with 146 1/2.

Calvary Chapel and Savanna were the highest county finishers, tying for 12th with 59 points.

Huntington Beach was 14th and Canyon, the county’s top-ranked team since the season began, 18th. There could be some changes when the next Orange County Coaches’ Assn. poll is announced Monday.

But there’s no question Padgett strengthened his stand as the favorite for the Southern Section 4-A championships next month. He has been top-ranked at 160 pounds for most of the season and with good reason. Saturday’s victory improved him to 29-0 with 25 pins.

Padgett sailed through the tournament with three pins, including one that took only 13 seconds, and one technical fall.

In Sunset League boys’ basketball:

Edison 62, Santa Ana 48--John Khamis scored 22 points for visiting Edison (10-6, 3-1). Santa Ana is 6-10, 0-4.

Huntington Beach 53, Fountain Valley 39--Jeff Vanderwal led Huntington Beach (11-7, 4-1) with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Ocean View 70, Westminster 53--Jim Harris scored six of his 11 points in the first quarter as the Seahawks (8-7, 1-3) broke out to a 17-4 lead.

In Olympic League boys’ basketball:

Brethren Christian 81, Orange Lutheran 48--Chiron Hart had 22 points and 13 rebounds for host Brethren Christian (13-2, 4-0). Orange Lutheran is 7-9, 3-1.

Whittier Christian 72, Capistrano Valley Christian 67--Mark Berokoff and Tyler Ream each scored 20 points for visiting Whittier Christian (9-7, 3-2). Troy Rodarmel scored 32 for Capistrano Valley Christian (7-7, 0-4).

In Angelus League boys’ soccer:

Mater Dei 1, Loyola 0--Trevor Ickes scored on a penalty kick midway through the first half for visiting Mater Dei (14-2-2, 3-0). Servite is 5-4-3, 0-3.

Santa Margarita 2, Bishop Amat 1--Chad Cardenas and John Bamford scored goals for host Santa Margarita (10-3-3, 3-0).