On Saturday afternoon, No. 8 Poway made the six-hour plus (less if no traffic) journey of almost 350 miles to take on No. 1 Buchanan in Clovis, California. The matinee showdown allowed the top-rated Bears to avenge losses from the last two years to the Titans with a 32-23 final.
A six-hour trip sets the stage for a rivalry renewal
“We have been (doing this dual) for the past five years,” Buchanan coach Troy Tirapelle informed. “We won the first two. They won the second two. So, after this year it’s 3-2 in favor of us. I’m sure they’ll be ready to even the score next year at their place. We rotate who is home/away each year. Makes it so you only have to drive six hours every other year. More doable this way.”
Buchanan won the Doc Buchanan Tournament two weeks ago where they also claimed the nation’s number one ranking by outpointing then number one, Faith Christian Academy from Pennsylvania. Poway was fourth in those standings, ending in a tie New Jersey’s Delbarton. St. John Bosco was the third place team.
Early shock: Cordero stuns Silva at 120 pounds
There was one upset on the night and that came in the opening bout at 120 pounds when Poway’s Rene Cordero used a seven-point sequence in the second period to surprise Thiago Silva, who is ranked 12th nationally at 113 pounds, 13-7. The 3-0 lead would be the only one the Titans would know.
Not having No. 2 Rocklin Zinkin at 120 aided Cordero’s upset bid and led to the team score being tighter than expected as the final bouts were called upon. In a lot of our recent dual meet coverage, the winning outcome came with a few weights left to go, this one was going down to the wire after Wyatt Carnrite stepped up for Poway at 106 pounds following the turnaround after heavyweight…