Capistrano Valley Produces Surprise Wrestling Title

Capistrano Valley Coach Joe Zeller’s hope was that his team wouldn’t be last in the South Coast League wrestling finals Wednesday at Mission Viejo. To the surprise of Zeller and everybody there, the Cougars won the league title.

“I had absolutely no expectations coming into this,” Zeller said after Capistrano Valley won with 138 1/2 points. “We’ve had such a bad season. I mean, our only win was against Mission Viejo. And that was very close. I just can’t believe we’ve won this.”

Defending champion San Clemente was second with 137 points and Dana Hills was third with 134.

Although the league title was supposed to be a close battle between Dana Hills (5-0 in league competition), Trabuco Hills, and San Clemente, the Cougars had seven wrestlers advance to the finals. Dana Hills and Trabuco Hills both had six advance.

The Cougars’ Mike Canidate edged Shaun Betts of Dana Hills, 8-6, in the 142-pound title match. Warren Michaelis, ranked fifth in the county at 173 pounds, beat Jared Roth of Mater Dei for the title, 11-1.

The top three finishers advance to the Southern Section Division I finals, which take place next weekend.

Trabuco Hills and Mater Dei each had three champions. Mission Viejo, Dana Hills and San Clemente each had two champions.