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Athletic Department
Highland of Palmdale, which has won Southern Section dual-meet championships the past two seasons, returns half of its starters and, just as importantly, coach Mike Young, who has compiled a state-best record of 541-135-4 in his 25 seasons, including 11 at Franklin of Los Angeles. Royal brings back one of the best young wrestlers it has fielded in Kevin Dunn, who qualified for the Masters Meet at 103 pounds as a freshman last season. Coach Paul Mole's defending Marmonte League champions also return state qualifier Eric Blackwell for his senior season. Chatsworth brings back Edwin Martinez and Oscar Garcia, both state qualifiers as sophomores last season, when the City Section champion Chancellors ended San Fernando's three-year City title reign by winning six individual City titles. Harvard-Westlake of Studio City returns one of the area's most successful wrestlers in 215-pound Southern Section champion and state qualifier Kenji Porter. But perhaps no area coach is anticipating this season more than Crespi's Mike Odman, who has resurrected the program to the tune of two Mission League team titles in the four seasons since the Encino school brought back wrestling. He believes his 2004-05 team can realistically compete for much more. Crespi, which competed in Southern Section Div. VI last season, remains in that alignment. But past Div. VI powers Morro Bay, Santa Maria, Charter Oak and two-time champion Highland have moved out of the division this season, which is also the season in which Odman will be fielding his strongest team. "We were ranked No. 7 last year, and the top six teams ahead of us are all gone by the hand of God," Odman said. "and with the horses we've got this year, it looks wonderful." The Crespi coach might have to wait for all of his horses to be running at the same speed in the wrestling room since several of them are playing for the Celts' Div. X finalist football team, which plays North Torrance for the Southern Section championship Friday in a 7:30 p.m. game at Pierce College. Martin Ciccolini, who leads the area with 11 interceptions, will wrestle this season at 140 pounds after winning league titles at 125 and 130. Sam Chamberlain (215), who is being recruited by Harvard for football, and Sione Fua (heavyweight), who has attracted football interest from USC, also are on the football team. But Odman believes all will be ready for the Mission League final and postseason opportunities, which should be enhanced by the return of league champions Luis Munoz, Lamar Reed and Sean Ellis, league runner-up Devin Ricketson, highly regarded Conrad Agajanian and Taft transfer Joshua Morgan. "My cup runneth over, and these guys all want to be a part of it," Odman said. "This could be Crespi history, God willing. The stars appear to be aligned." |