Here is my live blog (sort of) from the 44th Annual Five Counties Invitational, from lovely Fountain Valley High. This tournament is not for the weak. …

And your county championship semifinalist are …

I’ve finally arrived back at Fountain Valley for day two of the Five Counties Invitational. Unlike last year, as soon as I pulled up, I pulled right into a parking spot. Yessir. I’ve finally made it.

103 – Dean O’Bourke (Calvary Chapel)

135 – Mitch Newcomer (Laguna Hills)

215 – Tank Knowles (Calvary Chapel)

171 – Anthony Duarte (Fountain Valley); Morgan McIntosh (Calvary Chapel)

152 – Tigran Adzhemyan (Calvary Chapel)

At 171, we will have a winner take all. McIntosh and Duarte are ranked 1-2 in the county.

The consolations are going on now, if any wind up placing, I will have that list for you. Until, then, I’m out to the mats. …Peace

The O.C. ain’t no friend of Kyle West

West of Oak Ridge High of El Dorado Hills, who was defeated by Vinny Pisani (El Modena) in last year’s state finals, just suffered another defeat at the hands of one O.C.’s finest.

West, who was the top seed here and the top-ranked wrestler in the state, was defeated by Mitch Newcomer of Laguna Hills, 6-5 in the semifinals. Newcomer is off to the finals where he will face Conrad Snell of Poway. As for West, I think it is time to head East.

Shhhhhhhhh, there’s a wrestler sleeping

The weight room here at Fountain Valley serves as a makeshift media room, head table, coach lounge area and now, a bedroom.

Colin Contreras (Servite) just found him a spot on the floor and went to sleep. I’ve always been amazed at how fast wrestlers can fall asleep. And is sound asleep. I have visual proof. I’m going to save it for an end of the year wrestling photo essay. Be on the lookout for it.

3:04 p.m.

Hungry, sleepy, tired, hungry

Have I mentioned, that I’m hungry.

The medal matches are finally over. The first half of the day was intense, as everyone expected it would be.

By the way, Colin Contreras did wake up from his nap. He finished sixth at 103 pounds.

I will be back with the full list of county placers.

Rockin’ the medals

Here is the list of county wrestlers who have earned medals here at the Five Counties Invitational.

Mitch Newcomer (135) and Morgan McIntosh (171) are in the finals at their weights.

103- Dean O’Bourke (Calvary Chapel), third;Colin Contreras (Servite), sixth;

112 – Aaron La Farge (La Habra), fifth; Juan Jaime (Laguna Hills), seventh; 119- Bobby Morales (Laguna Hills), fifth; 125 – Michael Vargas (Buena Park), seventh; 140 – Eric Roberts (Laguna Hills), fifth; 152 – Tigran Adzhemyan (Calvary Chapel), third; 160 – Jonathan Rivera (Santa Ana), eighth; 171 – Anthony Duarte (Fountain Valley), third; 189 – David Ellzey (El Dorado), seventh; 215 – Tank Knowles (Calvary Chapel), third; 285 – Kevin Shannon (El Modena), seventh

Where there’s smoke, there’s Five Counties

The presentations of tonight’s finalists are set to commence in approximately 40 minutes. The finals presentation here is quite a sight. It is sort of like the state tournament, but more of a show.The fans, coaches, wrestlers are filing back in here at Fountain Valley. The DJ is setting up. I’m the only reporter at the media table. There’s also a wrestler dribbling a basketball. You can’t find this stuff any of Dan Albano’s water polo tournaments.

I can’t hear myself think

Once again, the media table is situated right next to the so-called DJ and his speakers. My head hurts and it is only 6:37 p.m.

I don’t even think this guy is playing music. Where’s the plug?

Let’s start the show

Intro to the show

Introductions of the finalists are underway now. In case you don’t know, this party with start with the 103 final and work up to the big boys at 285.

Laguna Hills’ own Mitch Newcomer (135) was just introduced. Calvary Chapel’s Morgan McIntosh (171) will be heading out next.

The first match of the evening will be between Alex Cisernos (Selma) and Nick Babcock of somewhere, I think Broomfield of Colorado.

I’m ready….I have a deadline

7:15 p.m.

My main man, Sammy Lopez

Lopez, who coached at Buena Park, has moved up north (I think) to become the coach of Selma. I’m not sure where Selma is, but I think they make wrestlers up there.

Alex Cisneros, who is No. 1 in the land just opened things with a 14-3 major decision over a kid from Colorado at 103s

Great job Lopez…(Note, Selma finished second in the standings and had six placers).

Matriculating our way through the finals

We’ve had three matches and and all three have gone the distance. I have a feeling that’s going to be the theme for the rest of the night.

Recapping what you’ve missed: Alfonso Osuna (Brawley) won at 112s, 5-1 and Jesse Delgado (Gilroy) majored Chad Thornock (san Jacinto), 10-1. Delgado is a bad boy.

Onto 125s….We’re getting closer to Newcomer

Mitch Newcomer is now “that” guy

If you win a title at Five Counties, then you automatically get the target on your back. It goes with the job.

Newcomer made the cut down to 135s, now he’s a Five Counties champ. He just laid the smackdown on Conrad Snell of Poway, 10-4.

Newcomer is now the king of the weight class. You don’t want to see him.

In other action: 125s featured a pair of state champions, with David Klingsheim (Liberty) defeating Martin Gonzalez (Gilroy), 11-5.

The fans didn’t agree with the refs at 130s, booing a non-takedown call. But it was a good no-call. Props to the refs

The lights are out, but they’re still on?

The main spotlight over the mat is out and so is one of the scoreboards. However, we’re still soldiering on here.

Here’s what you’ve missed: Jonah Cruz of Bakersfield defeated Vlad Dombroski of Natomas, 4-2 in overtime at 140 and Taylor Hodel of Vacaville decisioned Cody Bollinger of Sultana, 3-2. I’ve moved back to my home away from home, the FV weight room. I need silence!!!

Morgan McIntosh is a beast and he’s coming for you

McIntosh, Calvary Chapel’s sophomore 171-pounder took the fight to Poway’s Ian Daube, defeating him 9-6.

I’m going out on a limb right now at 9:25 on Jan. 17: Morgan McIntosh will win the state title.Take that to the streets. Post it on your MySpace, Facebook, wherever

Now, I’m really tapped out

Friday I arrived at 4 and left at 10:30. Today I arrived a little before 10 and I just now wrapping up. All I here are crickets. I think that’s my cue

Peace

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.