Chandler wrestling nets Division I team championship
Sunnyside's lengthy title run ends
PRESCOTT VALLEY - The Wolves have roared.
Chandler High scored an emotional victory Saturday, taking home the
Division I team title at the state wrestling championships at Tim's
Toyota Center.
In a tightly contested tournament that came down to the wire, Chandler emerged with 122 points, besting the 120.5 of Yuma Cibola.
"It was a battle," Chandler associate head coach Curtis Owen said. "It was fun because there were like eight teams that could've won it.
"I'm just so proud of (our kids) because they stepped up and got it done when it counted."
Tucson Sunnyside finished tied for fourth with 113 points, marking the first time in 15 years that it will not be crowned state champion.
"It's bittersweet," first-year Sunnyside coach Anthony Leon said. "But we're going to put up a picture of (Chandler), and we're going to go in and work our tails off (to come back strong next year)."
Leading the charge for Chandler was junior Dalton Brady, who defeated Mesa Westwood's Da'Wayne Robertson at 120 pounds to claim his third state title.
The win gives Brady the chance to become a four-time state champion next year, after Safford's Trey Andrews and St. Johns' Ryder Nielsen both accomplished the feat Friday.
"It's exciting," Brady said of his rare opportunity.
"It's been my goal since I was a freshman."
Phoenix Desert Vista senior Robbie Mathers also won his third state crown Saturday, defeating Zach Walton of Tempe Corona del Sol by major decision, 22-8, for the 132-pound championship.
Mesa's Ben Andrew scored the upset of the evening at 220 pounds, beating defending champion Cedric Gonzalez of Sunnyside and ending Gonzalez's undefeated season.
"It feels great. I love it," said Andrew, who was leading the match 6-2 when Gonzalez was disqualified in the third period. "I knew he didn't have much in the tank, so I was just going to push him and push him and make him as tired as I could."
Other Division I champions from Saturday night's finals included: Tristan Moran, Chandler (106 pounds); Dajour Reece, Laveen Cesar Chavez (113); Octavio Penunuri, Mesa Mountain View (126); Robert Sobarzo, Desert Vista (138); Pierre Gaud, Cibola (145); Samson Imonode, Phoenix Horizon (152); Diorian Coleman, Mesa (160); Garrett Ryan, Horizon (170); Christian Allen, Gilbert Highland (182); Alex Bambic, Desert Vista (195); Matt Zismann, Phoenix Sandra Day O'Connor (heavyweight).
High school wrestling 2012: Best photos
Chandler High scored an emotional victory Saturday, taking home the
Division I team title at the state wrestling championships at Tim's
Toyota Center.In a tightly contested tournament that came down to the wire, Chandler emerged with 122 points, besting the 120.5 of Yuma Cibola.
"It was a battle," Chandler associate head coach Curtis Owen said. "It was fun because there were like eight teams that could've won it.
"I'm just so proud of (our kids) because they stepped up and got it done when it counted."
Tucson Sunnyside finished tied for fourth with 113 points, marking the first time in 15 years that it will not be crowned state champion.
"It's bittersweet," first-year Sunnyside coach Anthony Leon said. "But we're going to put up a picture of (Chandler), and we're going to go in and work our tails off (to come back strong next year)."
Leading the charge for Chandler was junior Dalton Brady, who defeated Mesa Westwood's Da'Wayne Robertson at 120 pounds to claim his third state title.
The win gives Brady the chance to become a four-time state champion next year, after Safford's Trey Andrews and St. Johns' Ryder Nielsen both accomplished the feat Friday.
"It's exciting," Brady said of his rare opportunity.
"It's been my goal since I was a freshman."
Phoenix Desert Vista senior Robbie Mathers also won his third state crown Saturday, defeating Zach Walton of Tempe Corona del Sol by major decision, 22-8, for the 132-pound championship.
Mesa's Ben Andrew scored the upset of the evening at 220 pounds, beating defending champion Cedric Gonzalez of Sunnyside and ending Gonzalez's undefeated season.
"It feels great. I love it," said Andrew, who was leading the match 6-2 when Gonzalez was disqualified in the third period. "I knew he didn't have much in the tank, so I was just going to push him and push him and make him as tired as I could."
Other Division I champions from Saturday night's finals included: Tristan Moran, Chandler (106 pounds); Dajour Reece, Laveen Cesar Chavez (113); Octavio Penunuri, Mesa Mountain View (126); Robert Sobarzo, Desert Vista (138); Pierre Gaud, Cibola (145); Samson Imonode, Phoenix Horizon (152); Diorian Coleman, Mesa (160); Garrett Ryan, Horizon (170); Christian Allen, Gilbert Highland (182); Alex Bambic, Desert Vista (195); Matt Zismann, Phoenix Sandra Day O'Connor (heavyweight).
Deirdre Hamill/The Arizona Republic
Feb. 11, 2012 - Chandler teammates hold up the state Division I wrestling championship trophy.
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