Here is live blog from the second day of the Five Counties Invitational from start or at least when I arrived (12:30) until I left (10:30 or so). Fun times were had by all.

Morgan McIntosh is human after all

Just in case you were beginning to think otherwise, McIntosh, who’s goal is to always pin all of his opponents, didn’t do so in his quarterfinal match against Jessen Cole of Chico. McIntosh did win 15-6 to advance to the semifinals at 189 pounds. I bet he pins his next two opponents.

Other county semifinalists include: Gavin McDonald (Calvary Chapel, 103), Dean O’Bourke (Calvary Chapel, 112), Sammy Cano (Santa Ana, 112), Juan Jaime (Laguna Hills, 125), Bobby Morales (Laguna Hills, 130), Scott Sire (Edison, 171), Tank Knowles (Calvary Chapel, 215) and Wyatt Baker (Servite, 285).

Your county Five Counties Invitational finalists

The semifinal finals matches are DUN…done. We had nine county kids make the semifinals, but we have four who will come back tonight for the finals. Looks like I will have a busy night.

Here’s the group:

130 – Bobby Morales (Laguna Hills)

189 – Morgan McIntosh (Calvary Chapel)

215 – Tank Knowles (Calvary Chapel)

285 – Wyatt Baker (Servite)

In Baker’s semifinal match against Luis Barragan of Gilroy, Baker pinned Barragan, but Barragan appeared to injured his neck in the fall to the ground. The paramedics were called and he was taken off on a stretcher. He appeared to be answering all questions from the training staff and he gave the thumbs up sign as he was taken off. I will try and get an update before I leave tonight.

Note: Gilroy coaches said Barragan was doing fine

Calvary Chapel in the lead early in consolation semifinals

The Church Boyz have taken the lead in the overall team standings here at Five Counties. Calvary has 118.5 points.

Gilroy is second with 114 points. Bakersfield is third with 102.5, followed by Selma (100) and Poway (96.5).Calvary has two finals (Tank Knowles and Morgan McIntosh) and three others in the consolation bracket (Dean O’Bourke, Michael Manighalam and Gavin McDonald). I need to find out when the last time a county team won this party.

It appears that Poway’s reign on top is coming to an end. Poway has won this tournament five consecutive years.

We will break in to your regularly scheduled programming with updates.

BREAKING NEWS: New leader heading into the finals

Selma High, coached by former Buena Park coach Sammy Lopez has the team lead heading into tonight’s finals. Selma has 127 points. Calvary Chapel is second with 121.5. Bakersfield is third with 115.5 followed by Giroy with 114.

Selma has one finalist tonight (Alex Cisneros, 112). Calvary Chapel has two Tank Knowles (215) and Morgan McIntosh (285). Bakersfield and Gilroy have two apiece.

This is going to be an interesting night. Also, you know it has been a long day when they’re selling hamburgers on hot dog buns.

Here are your county medalists (excluding the finalists)

103 – Gavin McDonald (Calvary Chapel), third; Andrew Mestas (El Modena), eighth

112 – Dean O’Bourke (Calvary Chapel, third; Sammy Cano (Santa Ana), fourth

119 – Richard Vargas (Santa Ana), sixth

125 – Juan Jaime (Laguna Hills), third

130 – Michael Vargas (El Dorado), eighth

135 – Alec Robbie (Tesoro), sixth

140 – Walker Slaughter (Irvine), seventh

145 – Gian-Pier Yanez (Servite), eighth

152 – Aaron Lopez (Edison), seventh

171 – Scott Sire (Edison), fourth

189 – Preston Quam (San Clemente), fourth; Weston Hawkins (Edison), sixth

285 – Spencer Smith (Los Alamitos), fifth; Michael Manighalam (Calvary Chapel), seventh

Five Counties finals are almost here

The gym has been broken down and rebuilt for the finals presentation that is set to begin at 7 p.m. If you’ve never been here for a Five Counties finals, then you’re missing out. We have one giant mat. The night will start at 103 pounds and work its way to the heavyweights

We’re talking light show, live DJ, everything you could ask for in a wrestling match and probably more than you ever wanted to ask for.

One thing about this event is that, the media (right now, just me and another reporter) are sitting right out in the open. I hope no one throws anything at me.

The fans and coaches are filing in right now. The DJ has already given me a headache. I definitely have better music in my Zune player. Some of the finalists have hit the mats to begin getting loose and ready.

Are you ready? I’m barely ready.

5:53 p.m.

Cue the spotlight. I hope

Usually, we have one giant spotlight shining over the mats for the finals matches. Last year, however, it blew out midway through the finals. It is off right now. I’m hoping it is back in action tonight.

Watching Five Counties without the spotlight is sort of like shooting fireworks in the day time. As of right now, I have the perfect spot. I can actually see the mat. Of course, we haven’t started yet.

6:37 p.m.

Breaking news: the lights are being turned out. I think the spotlight is back in action.

The proceedings are getting underway

First up, recognizing the officials and honoring them for all of their hard work. I going to try and get myself inducted into the Five Counties Hall of Fame.

Speaking of Hall of Fame, something new this year, we have the first three inductees into the Five Counties Hall of Fame. And no, I didn’t get inducted …. yet

Wayne Branstetter (Poway) and Nathan Morgan (Bakersfield) are two of the inductees. There is another, but I have to find his name.

BAM!!! The lights are out and we’re ready to start.

7:03 p.m.

Introduction time, where’s Mean Gene?

The 28 championship finalist are out and ready for the face off introduction. There is an electric atmosphere in here tonight.

Loud crowd ovation for Morgan McIntosh, Tank Knowles and the Centennial of Corona champs.

The party is about to start…and here comes the spotlight. Welcome back spotlight.

Good-bye spotlight?

Nashion Garrett of Chico wasted little time scoring against Dillan Rocha. In fact, he scored a takedown in the first few seconds of the match. Rocha didn’t even have time to think about what he was going to do. Garrett won 5-0 at 103 pounds.

Memo to people behind me: stop looking over my shoulder. Nothing to see here, keep it moving.

Boom, there goes the light. In the second period of the 112-match, the spotlight had seen enough went out. Just like last year.

When the match resumed, Alex Cisneros turned out Ray Delgado’s lights, 10-2.

Zach Zimmer is the human rain delay

His match with Chris Mecate (Redlands East Valley) is still in the first period, but Zimmer has already been forced to stop three times because Mecate has busted him. After all of that, they were scoreless after the period.

Make that four times. Check that, we’re up to five. Neither wrestler scoring any offensive points. Went in overtime tied at 1-1.

In OT, Zimmer shot in on a single leg, but Mecate fought him off and eventually Mecate scored the winning reversal, late in the period. In your face. Mecate Time!!. WAIT, someone threw a challenge flag. The refs are debating, whether or not Mecate scored in time. After further review…the takedown stands. MECATE TIME.

At this rate, we’ll be here until next year’s tournament

Clovis East, West, South, North, Midwest, Northwest?

How many Clovises are there? Vince Rodriguez of Clovis North defeated Jesse Delgado of Gilroy, 4-2 in overtime. It was a stall fest early in the match.

Now, I have my first county finalist, Bobby Morales (Laguna Hills). He’s facing Chris Calcagno from one of Clovises. I think North.

Morales dominated the match, winning 10-4. He’s now the guy to beat at 130. Can you handle him?

The longest night continues

This is by far the longest Five Counties finals that I’ve ever covered. Where’s the fast forward button? We’re in the 145-pound match. I admit, I’m not really watching.

Denzel Hawkins (Centennial) vs. Bradley Johnson (Canyon Springs) at 152 pounds. Whoa! Johnson’s father is coaching in a blue singlet. Wow. That’s crazy. I met Mr. Johnson at last year’s Masters Meet. Good guy.

However, Hawkins was better. He defeated Johnson, 16-6. Hawkins is bad. I’m not he’s not in my weight class.

BREAKING NEWS: Tracking the big leaderboard

Calvary Chapel entered the finals in second place. Selma had the lead, but Selma is done with finalists. Bakersfield and Gilroy just faced off against each other at 160 pounds with Bakersfield’s Bryce Hammond defeating Gilroy’s Dominic Kastl, 4-2.

Both schools are done.

Selma is still in the lead with 132. Calvary Chapel is second with 121.5. Morgan McIntosh and Tank Knowles have yet to wrestle. All Calvary Chapel needs is a pin and major decision. Arsen Aleksanyan is aware of this. I sure Calvary Chapel nation is aware as well. That seems almost too easy. In fact, it is too easy. I’m going out on a limb and saying that Calvary Chapel will win Five Counties.

BREAKING NEWS: Church Boyz come up short in quest for title

Calvary Chapel needed a pin and a major decision from the dynamic duo of Morgan McIntosh (189) and Tank Knowles (215) to win the team title. A pin and a major…It didn’t happened. I feel cheated.

Church Boyz came up 2.5 points short. How is this possible? I demand a recount.

McIntosh earned a major against Chace Eskam of Carlsbad, 15-6. Knowles defeated J.T. Felix of Centennial of Corona, 4-1. It was a tough match. I thought Knowles had the pin in his grasp, when he tilted Felix in the second period and scored a three-point near fall, but Felix was tough.

Second isn’t bad, especially at this tournament. I know that the Calvary Chapel coaches will use this as a motivation for the guys and who knows, maybe things will be different at state.

Speaking of state, I have to make my reservations.

It is official, my head hurts.

Tapping out.

Day One Five Counties blog

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