El Modena Wins Wrestling Title

Although only one El Modena wrestler won a title, three Vanguard wrestlers placed second to secure a first-place finish Wednesday at the El Modena Classic at Santa Ana College.

Vanguard Kevin Dykes won his 160-pound match and teammates Jerin Williams (119), Ian Souza (215) and heavyweight Alex Solorio were runners-up in their weight classes.

El Modena, ranked third in the preseason polls, finished the two-day tournament with 192 points. San Diego Mount Carmel was second (179.5) and Chino Hills Ayala finished third (164).

Unranked Villa Park had an impressive showing, finishing fourth (152) with three individual champions.

“We put a lot of hard work in the summer with freestyle tournaments, camps and clinics. We had six guys who medaled. And the fact that we beat Loara, who beat us in a dual meet a couple of weeks ago, made for a good tournament,” Villa Park Coach Steve Stewart said.

Villa Park champions were junior Tommy Peralta at 103 pounds, sophomore Willie Parks (145) and senior Matt Mahoney (189).

Other county teams to finish among the top 10 were Loara, fifth at 147.5; Brethren Christian, sixth (129); Magnolia, seventh (120) and Fountain Valley, ninth (118).

Southern Section Division I champion Mike Simpson of Brethren Christian was named wrestler of the meet in the lower weights with two falls, two technical falls and one decision. Joe Makaafi of Magnolia was wrestler of the meet in the upper weights with four falls and one decision.

In the South Torrance boys’ soccer tournament:

Foothill 4, Santa Monica 0--Omar Rodriguez scored two goals, giving him eight this season, and also assisted on Juan Sandoval’s first-half goal for the Knights (6-4-1) in the consolation game. Steve Adams scored a second-half goal and Nick Adams posted his fourth shutout.