Without a Victory, Hawks Pull Off a Holiday Surprise

Laguna Hills, ranked eighth in the county, finished a surprising third at the 39-team Mann Holiday wrestling tournament at Santa Ana College Saturday.

The Hawks, who finished with 143 points, won no individual titles, but had six wrestlers place in the tournament.

“I think a lot of people didn’t expect us to finish where we did,” Laguna Hills Coach Cliff Jarmie said. “We had two good days of wrestling and we were able to get enough kids in the medal rounds.”

Jarmie said the third- and fifth-place matches were the keys for the Hawks.

Juniors Matt Simmons (145 pounds) and Ryan Lindenblatt (189) had the best individual showings for the Hawks, each finishing third.

Chino Hills Ayala, with four wrestlers in championship finals, was first with 230 points and San Diego Mt. Carmel was second with 179.5.

Loara Coach Larry Hadley said he was one of those surprised by Laguna Hills’ finish.

“They were on fire the first day and it carried over into [Saturday],” said Hadley, whose team is ranked seventh in the county. “This is a tough tournament, so to do well here speaks a lot of what Laguna Hills was able to do.”

Said Jarmie: “This was our first real tournament. This was a big test for us. And I’m very happy with the results.”

Loara, which finished fourth with 125 points, was led by the Galvan brothers.

Defending state champion Orlando Galvan won the 112-pound title by beating Manuel Rivera of El Monte, 16-4.

On Friday, Galvan won two matches, one by fall. On Saturday, he recorded a technical fall and a major decision.

Galvan, who won the state 103-pound title last season, was pleased with his progress.

“I’m a lot faster on my feet than I was last year and I just feel I’m technically better than last season,” Galvan said. “There’s pressure on me, but if I keep wrestling the way I am now, I think I can win state.”

Galvan’s brother, Josh, finished second in the 119-pound match, losing to Zeke Trevino of Santa Fe Springs Santa Fe.

Art Santellan of Magnolia was the only other county wrestler to win a title. Ranked fourth in the county at 125 pounds, Santellan won his final in the last 15 seconds when he scored on an escape to beat Rayes Padilla of Saddleback, 3-2.

Fountain Valley’s Jesse Tice (103), Valencia’s Danny Moller (140), Dana Hills’ Ty Blair (171) and Trabuco Hills’ Brian Carrol (189) each finished second in his class.