Southern Section Report : Poway Flexes Its Might for Wrestling Title

Wrestling fans got a preview of the March 5-6 state championship meet last weekend at the annual Five Counties Invitational at Fountain Valley High.

A total of 668 wrestlers from 64 teams--including 23 of the top 25 teams in the state--competed in 14 weight classes.

Poway won its third title in four years with 163 points. El Cajon Valhalla was second at 141.5 and Santa Ana finished third with 137.5.

“In some regards, this tournament may be tougher than state,� Fountain Valley Coach Mike Provenzano said. “Guys who finish second here have won state. Coaches love bringing their teams here because it gives them a good idea how they measure up.�

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Dick Bruich, who led Fontana to Southern Section Division I football titles in 1987 and 1989, has resigned to become coach at Kaiser High, a new school in Fontana that will open next year with 1,800-2,000 ninth- and 10th-graders.

Bruich was 209-57-2 and won 12 Citrus Belt League championships in 22 seasons as coach of the Steelers, who have made 25 consecutive major-division playoff appearances.

“I’m happy with the move because you don’t get too many opportunities to build a program from the ground up,� Bruich said.

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Mike Herrington, football coach at Newhall Hart, has been named coach of the California all-star team that will play a team of Texas all-stars June 26 at Cerritos College.

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Long Beach Poly, which won its second consecutive boys’ state Division I cross-country title, was ranked ninth in the nation in Harrier magazine’s final 1998 poll. Santa Ana was 13th, Saugus 22nd.

Irvine, the state Division I girls’ champion, was ranked seventh. La Canada, which won its second consecutive state Division III title, was ninth. Anaheim Esperanza was 18th.