Reynolds eighth at state tourney

Just qualifying to compete in the California Interscholastic Federation State Wrestling Championships at the University of the Pacific in Stockton is a tremendous accomplishment.

But to place? Of the 33 wrestlers in each weight class, eight manage to work their way into a medal position.

For most of those medallists, the road is harrowing. Ben Reynolds of Cupertino and Rich Faiva of Bellarmine could tell you all about it.

Reynolds and Faiva both were bumped into the consolation bracket on Friday, the first day of competition, and both were forced to battle through match after match en route to snagging eighth-place finishes --Reynolds in 189-pound action, and Faiva in 275.

Faiva's performance--including two major decisions, a pin and two other victories--helped Bellarmine to a team total of 28 points. Teammate Nick Crane, a Los Gatos resident, also won one match in the tournament.

"We're very pleased," Bellarmine coach Tim Kerr said after Faiva's final match, a 12-6 loss in the seventh-place round. "This was a very competitive heavyweight division. Usually you see one or two kids who are good. This year, there are very competitive kids all over the place."

Faiva's first loss came in the second round--an 11-2 major decision loss at the hands of eventual champion Arturo Basulto from Arroyo Grande.

Bellarmine's wrestlers entered state competition after locking up another West Catholic League championship and placing sixth in Central Coast Section competition. Faiva, a senior, becomes the Bells' 11th state placer, and has an opportunity to move on to the senior nationals in Cleveland, Ohio later this month.

"We're really excited about nationals," Kerr said. "We had three in a row, then took a year off, and now we're going back. We kind of know what's facing us there and we're excited about it. Rich has a chance to win some matches back there."

Reynolds had an even tougher draw than Faiva -- losing his first match and battling through four tough consolation matches before falling again to fight for seventh place, where he dropped a 4-2 decision.

"He had a great tournament," said Cupertino coach Jay Lawson of his junior placer. "It was really exciting."

In all, Reynolds posted a 4-3 record in the rugged two-day event.

"For that tournament, that's an awesome showing," added Lawson.

Reynolds also qualified for the national tournament. But since the tourney is for seniors only, he will not compete there until next year. He's the third Cupertino wrestler to earn a national berth. Aki Yoshikawa was a state and national champion in 1991, and Bao Ngo was second in the state and advanced to the nationals in 1993.

Chris Osian and Daniel Atondo of Fremont each picked up a victory in the first day of competition. Osian topped San Leandro's David Jagoda 3-2 in the 119-pound consolation pigtail after falling to eventual second-place medallist Tony Franco of Bakersfield in the opening round. Atondo (160) pinned his first opponent, Brett Griffith of Monte Vista-San Diego, before being pinned himself and losing a 16-6 decision.

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