Calvary Chapel of California wins Reno Tournament of Champions High School title

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Josh Maxson (Oklahoma State Sports Information)
12/23/2000


RENO, Nev. - The sixth Reno Tournament of Champions came down to a dogfight between Calvary Chapel and Broken Arrow, in the end, "the very end," Calvary Chapel proved to be the best.    The team title came down to the title match at heavyweight. Broken Arrow's title hopes rested on the broad shoulder of Neil Phillips, who was facing Westmoore¹s Chris Finn in a rematch of last years title match that Finn won.    Finn did it again, throwing Phillips to his back and pinning him in 5:01. The title was the second-straight for Finn.    The Phillips loss gave Calvary Chapel the team title with 209 points. Broken Arrow trailed in second with 204.5 points. Bakersfield finished in third with 182 points.    Calvary Chapel's sophomore Joe Williams claimed their only individual championship at 160 pounds with a 7-1 win over Broken Arrow¹s Luke Calvert. The Williams win proved to be vital in Calvary Chapel's 4.5 point team win.    Bakersfield crowned its fourth champion at 140 pounds when Drew East major decisioned Dan Clum of Pomona, Colo., 13-6. The four champions was a first for the Reno Tournament of Champions.    The championship finals opened with freshman 125-pounder Nathan Morgan of Bakersfield, Calif. major decisioning David Mahan of Midwest City, Okla. 11-3.     The 112-pound championship was decided quickly as Tony Franco of Bakersfield, Calif., pinned Cory Hacking of Uintah, Utah in 1:26 giving Bakersfield its second title.    The nation¹s top-ranked 119-pounder Jacob Palomino of Independence, Calif., a runner-up at last year¹s Reno TOC, faced off with Darrell Vasquez of Bakersfield, Calif.    Vasquez, only the second wrestler in California history to win a state title as a freshman,  knocked off Palomino, who was the first wrestler to accomplish that feat, 5-2. The title was Bakersfield¹s third of the evening. Vasquez's performance over the past two days also earned him outstanding wrestler recognition.    Hometown boy Chad Espinoza of Wooster High School here in Reno dominated the 215 pound weight class on the way to his first title. He won a 21-6 technical fall in the finals over Will Webster of Wasatch, Utah.    Defending Reno TOC champion Tom Clum reigned supreme once again, decisioning Clay Creswell of El Reno, Okla. Clum¹s 7-2 win showed why he is considered one of the best wrestlers anywhere in the nation.    The nation's top prospect rolled in his 189-pound title match. Jake Rosholt of Sandpoint, Idaho picked up a 9-0 major decision over Ryan Bader of McQueen, Nev. Rosholt tore through the competition on his way to his first  Reno TOC title. Rosholt finished second at 171 pounds a year ago.     At 130 pounds, Andy Kim of Poway, Calif. came away with a 4-2 win over Steve Esparza of Calvary Chapel for his first Reno Tournament of Champions title.    Gino Fortebuono of Easton, Pa., won his second-straight Reno TOC title at 135 pounds with a 4-3 win over Andrew Spradlin of Bakersfield, Calif.    Alex Tirapelle of Clovis, Calif. held of for a thrilling 1-0 win over Miguel Guiterrez of Foothill, Calif. Tirapelle rode Guiterrez the entire third period to hold on for the win.    Second-seeded Derek Zinck of Perkiomen, Pa. stayed aggressive throughout the entire match and came away with a 3-2 win for his first Reno TOC title.    At 171 pounds, Shane Webster of Crater, Ore., a 1999 Reno TOC titlest at 160 pounds, picked up a 17-4 major decision over Ryan 8 of Rancho, Calif.    Team Standings (Top 15)  1   Calvary Chapel,Calif., 209 points  2   Broken Arrow, Okla., 204.5  3   Bakersfield, Calif., 182  4   Easton, Pa., 181.5  5   Poway, Calif., 168.5  6   Pomona, Colo., 136.5  7   Green River, Wyo., 116.5  T8  Box Elder, Utah, 115  T8  State College, Pa., 115  10  Wasatch, Utah, 114.5  11  El Reno, Okla., 112.5  12  Dallastown, Pa., 112  13  Perkiomen, Pa., 109  14  Crater, Ore., 107  15  Sandpoint, Idaho, 106