Seven Would be Heaven for Esparza, Eagles

Steve Esparza didn’t hesitate before making a prediction for his Calvary Chapel wrestling team for this season.

“The Eagles will win their seventh state title,” he said. “There is absolutely no doubt about it.”

Bold words? Maybe, but consider the source. Esparza, a four-year starter at Calvary Chapel, is ranked first in the state at 130 pounds.

“No, no. It’s OK to quote me,” he said. “I don’t think it’s bragging. We have a strong team. . . . It’s going to happen. . . . I guarantee it.”

If they succeed, the defending champions would take sole possession of the state record of six they currently share with Bakersfield.

John Azevedo, Calvary Chapel’s coach for the past 12 seasons, laughed at Esparza’s comments, but he knows his top wrestler means every word.

“Steve is the kind of guy who means what he says,” Azevedo said. “As a technician, he’s superb. He’s extremely focused and works very hard. He really doesn’t have a weak part to his wrestling. He doesn’t rush things. He has the best chance to win a [state individual] title.”

Last year, Esparza finished second at the state finals to Brethren Christian’s Michael Simpson, who was later named The Times’ Orange County wrestler of year and now wrestles at Arizona State.

As a freshman, Esparza took third at state, but as a sophomore, he didn’t qualify after failing to make weight for the Masters meet. Esparza’s only three losses last season were to Simpson, but in two of those matches, the outcome wasn’t determined until the very end.

Simpson edged Esparza, 3-0, in the 125-pound state final. In that match, Simpson, who had a treacherous takedown, could not get a shot on Esparza and became frustrated. At Five Counties, Simpson won, 7-4, pulling out the win in the last minute of the match with a release and a takedown.

Although Esparza wrestled at Masters, he had to forfeit his championship match to Simpson because of an ankle injury he suffered earlier in the week.

“I’m going to miss him,” Esparza said of Simpson. “He pushed me and made me do my best.”

INJURY REPORT

Conan Williams, one of Calvary Chapel’s top wrestlers, didn’t compete at the Clovis Shoot-Out over the weekend because of a shoulder injury suffered in practice.

Azevedo said Williams, ranked first in the state at 189 pounds, should be back to face host Bakersfield on Friday.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Villa Park finished second at the Andrew Pena Memorial tournament Saturday with 173 points and crowned four individual champions. Irvine, which hosted the tournament, took third (125.5) and Kennedy was fourth (107). Corona Centennial won with 197.5 points. Travis Featherstone (103), Doug Yadon (125), Scott Meyer (130) and Buck Barger (140) won gold for the Spartans. University’s Alberto Gamboa won the 171-pound championship match, and Frank Richmond of Kennedy was the 152-pound champion. . . . Calvary Chapel swept all eight of its dual matches to win the Clovis Shoot-Out at Fresno Clovis West High this past weekend. The Eagles dominated, with Mario Estrada (103), Anthony Rodriguez (112), John Jackson (130), Esparza (135), Frank Gill and Willie Parks (189) going undefeated.

LOOKING AHEAD

Villa Park is looking to beat El Modena for the second consecutive time Wednesday in a match that will probably decide the Century League championship. Fifth-ranked El Modena will host Villa Park, which hadn’t beaten the Vanguards in 18 years before its 33-30 victory last season. The meet starts at 7 p.m.

Top-ranked Calvary Chapel will dual Bakersfield, ranked second in state on Friday. It will be the second road trip for the Eagles in the last week.

If you have an item or idea for the high school wrestling report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at erik.hamilton@latimes.com

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WRESTLING TOP 10

Orange County Coaches’ Poll

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Pos. School League 1. Calvary Chapel Olympic 2. Santa Ana Golden West 3. El Dorado Empire 4. Villa Park Century 5. El Modena Century 6. Dana Hills South Coast 7. Loara Empire 8. Laguna Hills Sea View 9. San Clemente South Coast 10. Irvine Sea View

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Individual Rankings

103--1. Estrada (Calvary Chapel); 2. Guzman (Santa Ana); 3. Featherstone (Villa Park). 112--1. O. Galvan (Loara); 2. Rodriguez (Calvary Chapel); 3. Chavez (Magnolia). 119--1. J. Galvan (Loara); 2. Silvar (Santa Ana); 3. Angulo (Villa Park). 125--1. Yadon (Villa Park); 2. Jackson (Calvary Chapel); 3. Santellan (Magnolia). 130--1. Esparza (Calvary Chapel); 2. Wimer (Marina); 3. Perez (Dana Hills). 135--1. Gill (Calvary Chapel); 2. Cadawallader (Brethren Christian); 3. Keene (Mission Viejo). 140--1. Barger (Villa Park); 2. Aguilar (Mater Dei); 3. Collins (El Dorado. 145--1. LaMay (Capistrano Valley); 2. Dubois (El Dorado); 3. Becerra (Santa Ana). 152--1. Richmond (Kennedy); 2. Serna (Santa Ana); 3. Finch (Loara). 160--1. Avalos (Santa Ana); 2. J. Williams (Calvary Chapel); 3. Hacker (Corona del Mar). 171--1. Gamboa (University); 2. Becerra (Santa Ana); 3. Blair (Dana Hills). 189--1. Parks (Calvary Chapel); 2. Howard (Santa Ana); 3. Oskins (Foothill). 215--1. Boulais (Calvary Chapel); 2. Ulerich (Capistrano Valley); 3. Montano (El Dorado). HWT--1. Arvizo (Santa Ana); 2. Curtis (El Dorado); 3. Suen (Kennedy).