SOUTHERN SECTION WRESTLING: GOLDEN SEVEN REACH MASTERS.

Byline: Matthew Kredell Staff Writer

CHINO HILLS - In a show of league unity, Golden League wrestling teams practiced with each other this week in preparation for the Southern Section individuals.

It paid off as seven Golden League wrestlers qualified for the Masters Meet by placing in the top five Saturday at Ayala High of Chino Hills.

Last year, only three league wrestlers qualified. Four wrestlers qualified from Highland of Palmdale alone.

``We picked up the pace this week and are working hard to become a credible wrestling league,'' Littlerock coach Delbert King said. ``It shows when we get down here and are wrestling against our own league on the second day.''

Evan Salas of Highland and Cameron Froede of Palmdale are prime examples at 145 pounds. Salas was the top finisher in the league after failing to win a league title two weeks ago.

Salas finished second and avenged the loss to Froede in the league finals, his only defeat in the past two years of league competition. Froede finished third. The two could meet again next week at Masters on Friday and Saturday at Fountain Valley High.

Highland - which finished third in the team totals - also qualified Dan Frazer, who took fifth place at 152 pounds, Jeremiah McGuffee, who finished fifth at 160, and heavyweight John Ikahihifo in fourth.

Littlerock qualified two wrestlers after having sent only one to Masters in school history. Daniel Mealey finished third at 171 pounds and Devon Field placed fourth at 119 pounds.

``Last year, I didn't do very well because of injuries,'' Mealey said. ``Both my knees were hurting bad. I needed to make up for not placing last year. I want to get some state patches on my jacket now.''

--In other Southern Section wrestling individuals:

--Marmonte: Shawn Riggs of Thousand Oaks made a furious rally to force overtime before losing the championship match at 171 pounds to take second for the second consecutive year at Canyon Springs of Moreno Valley.

Riggs is one of three Lancers - joining Gabe Sprigel, third at 140 pounds, and Greg Brockert, fourth at 215 - and eight from the Marmonte to qualify for Masters.

Riggs was down by four points with 15 seconds remaining against Devon Lee from Kennedy of La Palma before forcing overtime. He lost 10-8 in the extra period.

``I'm a little disappointed because I wanted to do better than last year,'' Riggs said. ``But it's always great to come from behind and it's more important to do better than last year at Masters.''

Simi Valley and Royal of Simi Valley each advanced two wrestlers. Mike McCravey of Simi Valley took third at 145 and was joined by teammate John Monroe, who lost to Riggs in the semifinals to take fourth.

Mario Vargas of Royal took fourth at heavyweight and was joined by teammate Cory Quinonez, who made up for his second-place finish in league by placing fourth.

Agoura advanced one in Bryan Fleming, who finished fourth at 152 pounds. Agoura's Derek Dummit, who qualified for Masters last year, finished sixth.

--Mission: Chris Gonzalez and Ariel Gradvohl from Alemany of Mission Hills were the only two league wrestlers to advance at Edison of Huntington Beach, but that is one more than the league had advanced in its previous two years of existence.

Gonzalez made the final at 160 pounds. Gradvohl, who had a heartbreaking sixth-place finish last year, made sure it wouldn't be close in his senior season by taking third. Tom Paternaster (135) from Chaminade of West Hills and Jeremy Stuart (145) from Harvard-Westlake of Studio City just missed the cut by placing sixth.