Dons dominate State Duals Championship

   Sophomores Jose Navarro and Bobby Scofield along with the rest of the Santa Ana College wrestling team continued their undefeated season when they overpowered Fresno City College 23-9 to win the State Duals Championship.
   “To go undefeated is a big accomplishment,” said Head Coach Vince Silva. “We’re undefeated and it was a great way to show where we are at.”
   At the beginning of the season, the team’s future seemed uncertain when three of the Dons top wrestlers were unable to compete. This included former state champion Tyler Garcia who was ineligible for academic reasons.
   Three months later, the Dons are undefeated, No. 1 in the state and have become the favorites to win the state championships.
   “Being undefeated is good in the season, but it means nothing until you reach your goals and the goal is a state championship,” said Navarro. “We got to stay focused and not fall apart. We got to show we are better than everyone.”
   The Dons showed they were better than the Rams when seven of the ten wrestlers won their matches.
   At 125-pounds, sophomore Jaime Martinez started Santa Ana off right with a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Fresno’s Galen Williams.
   Freshman Jason Arreola faced Fresno’s Daniel Osmer at 133-pounds. Though Osmer took the early lead, Arreola made two quick escapes and added on a couple of takedowns to win the match 9-4 and extend the Dons lead to 6-0.
   Scofield continued his winning streak scoring three takedowns in the final period, defeating Pete Escandon 14-5 in the 141-pound match.
   In the 149-pound match, Navarro dominated Kevin Miller 11-4 to remain individually undefeated.
   Sophomores Daniel Kennedy, Jimmy Botheras and Luis Onofre also won their respective weight classes.
   Last time the Dons won the State Duals was in 2005, which was the last time they won a state title.
   “We have a group of talented people,” said Scofield. “We have to stay solid. It’s about whoever wants it.”