The top dual team in the San Diego Section?
Top-end dual encounters favor Poway Titans

Vista, Carlsbad, Ramona, Mt. Carmel, Escondido, Valhalla all considered elite San Diego Section dual meet squads in 2005-06

The top dual team in the San Diego Section? The defending state tournament champion Poway Titans appear to have claimed that distinction after handing a pair of other section heavyweights resounding defeats in the early stages of the 2005-06 season. Poway met Vista, the second-place team at last season's San Diego Masters finals, in competition at the 2005 Clovis Shoot-Out, dealing the Panthers a 62-7 loss. The Titans hosted Carlsbad in a non-league dual on Dec. 14, administering a 63-12 victory against the Lancers.

The best of the rest? Vista defeated defending San Diego Section Division III champion Valhalla, 50-21, in another high profile non-league encounter, while Mt. Carmel handed Ramona a 51-27 non-league defeat.

Valhalla turned around and bested defending Grossmont North League champion El Captian, 54-24, on Dec. 15.

In the inaugural South Bay Face-Off on Dec. 7, three-time South Bay League champion Hilltop defeated both Eastlake and Bonita Vista, considered to be top challengers for this season's Mesa League title.

Grossmont delivered a wake-up call to Steele Canyon earlier this season as brothers Todd and Eric Bell have returned to coach at their alma mater. The Foothillers also edged Helix in another non-league encounter.

La Costa Canyon finished at the top of the standings of the 16-team Jimmy Hamada duals on Dec. 10, defeating Ramona, 46-27, in the championship round.

Brawley expects to be another top dual meet team this season after winning its 11th consecutive Imperial Valley League title last season.

In the Valley League, Escondido and Ramona finished within two points of one another for the team championship at the season-opening Carlsbad Invitational and wasted no time in getting down to dual meet action, with Escondido prevailing by a 45-30 score. The victorious Cougars had finished with five weight class champions at the preceding Carlsbad Invitational.

In the City Conference, Scripps Ranch got out to a strong start with a 2-0 record in double dual meet also involving Valley Center and Mar Vista.

The upcoming Rancho Bernardo 10-Way looks to settle a few questions in the upper and middle ends of the pack. Entered teams include Poway B, Vista, Carlsbad, Rancho Bernardo, Granite Hills, Steele Canyon,Monte Vista, Ramona, Valhalla and Mar Vista.

Monte Vista, which returns 10 starters, finished 3-3 in the Clovis West Shoot-Out, regarded as one of the state's top dual tourneys. The Monarchs defeated Selma (39-36), Central (39-36) and Clovis (54-25) and dropped match-ups against Madera (51-21), Crater (47-24) and Turlock (54-24). The Monarchs faced off Grossmont South League action with a 78-0 victory against visiting Granite Hills on Jan. 5.

Vista also competed at the Clovis West Shoot-Out, finishing eighth overall with dual wins against Turlock (45-32) and Monache (52-22) and losses against Buchanan (53-14), Vacaville (59-15), Poway (62-7), Crater (46-29) and Calvary Chapel (47-29).

Crater defeated Madera, 43-21, to capture third place while Clovis West defeated Vacaville, 46-30, to claim fifth place and Calvary Chapel downed Vista, 47-29, to finish seventh. Turlock edged Bullard, 42-36, to win the consolation champioinship.

Escondido 45, Ramona 30
103: Kirk (RHS) pinned Garcia (EHS).
112: Sax (EHS) pinned Mckenzie (RHS).
119: Redden (EHS pinned Dugan (RHS).
125: Seevers (RHS) pinned Craig (EHS).
130: Matthews (RHS)major decision over Edwards (EHS) 12-1.
135: Langston (EHS) pinned Deuel (RHS).
140: Monticalvo (EHS) pinned Orr (RHS).
145: Johnson (EHS) pinned Hernandez (RHS).
152: Kain (EHS) won by forfeit.
160: Blackwell (RHS) pinned Lora (EHS).
171: Dugan (RHS) major decisioned (EHS) 15-2.
189: Hughes (RHS) major decisioned Peters (EHS) 16-2.
275: Horner (EHS) decisioned Petijon (RHS) 8-6.

Mt. Carmel 51, Ramona 27
103: Chris Kirk (Ram) won by forfeit
112: Ryan Quackenbush (MC) pinned Trevor McKenzie (Ram) 3:47.
119: Matt Starbeck(MC) defeated Abel Suarez (Ram), injury default.
125: Cody Seevers (Ram) tech fall Andrew Luna (MC) 16-1.
130: Eric Matthews (Ram) major decisioned Primo Julian(MC) 10-2.
135: Aaron Murphy (MC) pinned Matt Swearigen (Ram) 1:03.
140: Beau Cervantes(MC) pinned Kevin Orr (Ram) 2:20.
145: Bryce Hansen(MC) pinned Hector Yorba (Ram) 1:58.
152: Chris Bascon (MC) pinned Eric Hernadez (Ram) 3:45.
160: Ryan Carl (MC) decisioned Anthony Dugan (Ram) 8-2.
171: Dugan (RHS) 15-2 over ChaHughes (Ram) pinned Matt Schultz (MC) 3:02.
189: Nate Velasco (MC) pinned Matt Jauck (Ram) 0:58.
215: Clayton Corbet (Ram) pinned Peter Kim (MC) 4:32.
275: Jonathan Downey (MC) defeated Ryan Stone (Ram) DQ.
JV result: Ramona 39, Mt. Carmel 33.

2004-05 Dual Meet Champions

Metro Conference/Mesa League: Chula Vista (5-0)
Metro Conference/South Bay League: Hilltop (4-0)
City Conference/Eastern League: Mira Mesa (5-0)
City Conference/Harbor League: Santa Fe Chrisue: Santa Fe Christian (5-0)
City Conference/Western League: Mission Bay (5-0)
Grossmont Conference/North League: El Capitan (4-0)
Grossmont Conference/South League: Monte Vista (5-0)
Valley League: Orange Glen (6-0)
Palomar League: Poway
Imperial Valley League: Brawley