Cougars reign at Dingwall

APPLE VALLEY • Coming into the Al Dingwall Kiwanis Memorial Wrestling Tournament, Granite Hills coach Mike Witham thought getting eight-to-10 placers would be a good showing.

On Saturday, the Cougars greatly exceeded their coach’s expectations with 15 placers and four individual champions to win the tournament with 2271⁄2 points.

It’s the first time Granite Hills has won the tournament since 2005. The Cougars improved on last year’s sixth-place finish.

“It’s a step for us,” Witham said. “As we rebuild, we have to take our victories. This was a step in the right direction. ... It was a step up for us. It helped the kids gain a little confidence.”

Leading the way was senior 103-pounder Robert Gonzalez, who earned lower-weight MVP honors after pinning all three of his opponents.

“This gives me a lot of confidence,” said Gonzalez, who was second at the Desert Sky League finals last year and was one match away from going to Masters.

Also winning individual titles for Granite Hills were Ryan Soto at 130 pounds, Michael Hope (160 pounds) and Harley Hobbs (189). The

Cougars had six others advance to the finals of the one-day tournament.

“The team is wrestling as a team,” Witham said. “They’re working for each other, and every wrestler did his part. They did the best they could. It was a total team effort.”

Sultana, which featured a mixture of Varsity A and B team members, finished second with 1911⁄2 points. The Sultans were led by senior Marcus

McArthur (152) who earned the upper-weight MVP with four pins. McArthur finished off the
tournament in style when he put his championship opponent on his back in 15 seconds.

“I was hoping to get the MVP,” McArthur said of his finals pin. “I was one pin away last year, and I came out this year and was looking for it. I guess I was hungry.”

Five others won individual titles for Sultana: Alejandro Mercado (119), Joey Moreno (135), Keith Cameron (140), Irvin Jimenez (145) and Tim Collins (171). The Sultans had 10 placers altogether.

Hesperia’s Victor Garcia (heavyweight) was the only other local champion at the tournament. Anaheim (176 points), Apple Valley (117) and the Scorpions’ B squad (77) rounded out the top five teams.

Al Dingwall Kiwanis Memorial
Wrestling Tournament
Team Standings (Top 10)
1. Granite Hills 2271⁄2; 2. Sultana 1911⁄2; 3. Anaheim 176; 4. Apple Valley A 117; 5. Hesperia 77; 6. Lucerne Valley 74; 7. Granite Hills B 71; 8. Apple Valley C 56; 9. Apple Valley B 51; 10. Silverado 38.
Lower-weight MVP — Robert Gonzalez, Granite Hills.
Upper-weight MVP — Marcus McArthur.
Finals
103 — Gonzalez (G) pinned Esparza (Ana.), 3:00; Third Place — Aguilar (L), Romo (AV).
112 — Lepe (Ana.) pinned Nava (G), 5:42; Third Place — Smith (Sul), Soles (VV).
119 — Mercado (Sul) pinned Lopez (V), 1:30; Third Place — Leos (G), Reyes (Ana).
125 — Navarro (Ana) pinned Penaloza (G), 1:20; Third Place — DeLaPaz (G), Wilson (Sul).
130 — Soto (G) dec. Alberts (AV), 10-6; Third Place — Cerulli (Sil), Zermano (Ana).
135 — Moreno (Sul) pinned Aguilar (Sul), 2:28; Third Place — Hagen (L), Lopez (L).
140 — Cameron (Sul) dec. Cox (G), 2-1; Third Place — Neffendorff (L), Esparaza (AV).
145 — Jimenez (Sul) major dec. Jackson (G); Third place — Penaloza (G), Gamez (AV).
152 — McArthur (Sul) pinned Risler (L), 0:15; Third Place — Rodriguez (Ana), Rodriguez (H).
160 — Hope (G) major dec. Franks (AV), 9-0; Third Place — Everard (L), Harris (Sul).
171 — Collins (Sul) dec. Asuega (G), 15-8; Third Place — Riding (G), Golike (AV).
189 — Hobbs (G) pinned Tennisaon (AV), 3:59; Third Place — Beyers (AV), Garcia (Ana).
215 — Lopez (AV) pinned Copado (Ana), 2:34; Third Place — Ary (G), Wheeler (AV).
Heavyweight — Garcia (H) dec. Ross (G), 13-7.

C.J. Daft can be reached via e-mail at christiand@vvdailypress.com or at 951-6275.