The heavyweight bout between Carlsbad's Kurt Klimek and Poway's Josh Teeples created the
buzz of the finals.
San Diego Section Division I Championships
Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006 at Poway High School
Titans score 13 finalists, eight champions and near-record point total
The defending state champion Poway Titans, bolstered by 13 finalists, scored the second-highest point total in the history of the San Diego Section Division I championship tournament to handily win this year's team title. The Titans totaled 339 points -- second only to last year's state championship squad. Poway finished the tournament with eight champions, the Outstanding Light Weight wreslter and one major upset to thrill the capacity crowd. Todd Schavrien, ranked first in the nation at 125 pounds, captured the MVP Light Weight award while heavyweight Josh Teeples toppled Carlsbad's Kurt Klimek, ranked second in the state, by a 6-2 decision to jump-start an exciting finals round. Most of the match-ups were close, with two decided by one point, five decided by two points, including the capper of the night that went into overtime.

Poway champions included George Flores (103), Tim Boone (112), Joey Boone (119), Todd Schavrien (125), Hawken Ruis (135), Clayton MacFarlane (145), Greg Prioleau (171) and Josh Teeples (275). Tim Boone (28-5) clipped Carlsbad's Matt Duffy (35-5) by a tight 3-1 decision while MacFarlane (32-7) defeated Vista's Joe Barajas by a 6-4 overtime score. Prioleau topped Vista's Seth Rehn, 5-0, while Ruis defeated Vista's Greg Cohen by an impressive 8-3 decision.

Teeples (21-13) recorded a pair of takedowns near the end of both opening periods, capitalizing on moves that Klimek (40-3) appeared to initiate but could not finish. However, cheered on the partisan crowd, the Poway wrestler seemed to gain confidence and held off Klimek's offensive attempts in the third period, recording two more points in the process to seal the victory.

Vista, which finished second in the team standings with 220.5 points, left the mat with four champions and seven finalists. Winners included Niall Morga (130), Emerson Kawani (140), Anthony Meza (152) and Alex Trueblood (215). Morga edged Poway's Colin Kenley by a 2-1 decision while Kawani won by injury default against Poway's Anthony Almanza (33-8). Meza scored a 12-4 major decision against Fallbrook's Joey Granata, holding off aggressive attacks by the Warriors' Reno Tournament of Champions place-winner before eventually gaining a foot-hold in the match. Trueblood came out aggressively in his bout against Poway's Matt Lewellen and maintained the pace throughout, winning 11-6.

Other Division I champions included Carlsbad's Jordan Taghvai at 189 pounds and Torrey Pines' Mike Cunningham at 160 pounds. Taghvai earned the MVP Upper Weight award after defeating Poway's Cory Lehman, ranked seventh in the state, by a 3-2 decision. Cunningham topped Poway's Travis Brown by a tight 3-1 score.

Carlsabad, with one champion and four finalists, fnished in third place in the team standings, followed by La Costa Canyon in fourth place and Valley League dual champion Escondido in fifth place.

Team Standings