The Sunnyvale Sun
Sports
Novachkov 'outstanding' at mat finals
By Mike Barnhart
Two days after reclaiming the De Anza Division dual match title from Fremont, Los Gatos wrestlers dominated the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League championship meet at Santa Clara High School on Saturday night.
Five Wildcats earned personal crowns last Saturday, as Los Gatos claimed its eighth SCVAL team title in nine seasons. Seniors Boris Novachkov and Jimmy Staats claimed individual titles for Fremont, last year's team champion.
With all 14 of its competitors qualifying for the upcoming Central Coast Section championships, Los Gatos scored 239 points and finished well ahead of runner-up Gunn (160.5). Cupertino, boasting three league champions, scored 127 points and shared third place with Palo Alto. Fremont finished fifth with 126. Saratoga placed eighth with 82 points, six more than ninth-place Monta Vista. Wilcox took 10th, followed by Santa Clara, The King's Academy (36.5), Homestead (36) and Lynbrook.
The SCVAL's top seven finishers in each weight class advanced to the CCS event, Feb. 23 at Independence and Feb. 24 at Overfelt.
Novachkov was named Outstanding Wrestler of the lower weights after holding off Los Gatos senior Naveed Bagheri, 5-4, in the 125-pound final.
Joining Novachkov as Outstanding Wrestler award winners were Cupertino senior Aris Harutyunyan (145) and Palo Alto senior John Hall (189). Novachkov, Harutyunyan, Hall and Los Gatos junior Geoff Doss (140) will take No. 1 section rankings into the CCS meet.
Bagheri, sixth in the state at 125 pounds and No. 3 in the CCS, fell just a takedown shy of knocking off Novachkov, who moved up three weight classes since winning the state 103 title last season and currently is the state's top-ranked 125-pounder.
"Naveed has been wrestling great this season," said Fremont co-head coach Bobby Soto, citing Bagheri's fourth-place effort at the prestigious Five Counties tournament in January, "and he was really gunning for Boris."
For Bagheri, the only Wildcat with state meet experience, it was the second SCVAL silver medal in a row. He lost in the 119 finale last year to Novachkov's older brother, Filip.
"Winning the first state championship is a lot easier than to win a second one," Soto explained. "Boris is everybody's target now in his weight class, but he really needs to be more aggressive in the first round of matches in order to stay away from close matches."
Staats rallied in the third period of the heavyweight finale to pin Semisi Hoko of Los Altos. It was his third pin of the day and raised his season record to 27-6.
"I am so happy for Jimmy," Soto said, recalling that Staats had a tough go against him in last year's league finals. "He was undefeated in dual meets and can always be counted on for six points."
Another Firebird senior, 135-pounder Mark Scandalis, reached the finals, but dropped a tough 7-6 decision to Los Gatos junior Calvin Hawkes. Junior La Quintin Cathey (130) placed third and junior Keith Bragas (189) took sixth.
Senior Atchison Brittle, who placed second for Fremont last season, missed the meet with an injury. He could compete at CCS as a hardship entry, according to Soto. Injuries also sidelined junior Daunte Mills and sophomore Kenny La during the league meet.
Freshman twin brothers Casey Johnson and Joe Johnson both qualified for CCS. Casey placed third at 119 and Joe took fourth at 112.
"We are extremely happy with these kids," Soto praised, speaking also for co-coach Erik Duus. "They are very competitive, fearless and improve every match."
Three sophomores from The King's Academy qualified for CCS. Travis Johnson placed third at 189 pounds, while Matt Thalin took fifth at 145 and Josh Topete seventh at 125.
Senior Matt Ott, who placed third in the 152-pound division, was the top qualifier for Homestead. Seniors John Da Silva (145) and Paul Newswanger (125) both finished sixth, and juniors Andy Chin (112) and Krzys Brozek (215) qualified seventh for the Mustangs.
