WRESTLING NOTEBOOK: MEET COMPLAINTS ISSUE FOR MISSION.

Byline: IVAN OROZCO

Staff Writer

Complaints that Crespi of Encino coach and Mission League administrator Mike Odman broke regulations at last weekend's CIF qualifying meet might not make it to the Southern Section's office.

That's because the issue should be resolved by the league, according to the Section's assistant commissioner and wrestling administrator, Rob Wigod.

"That's a Mission League issue under their offices," Wigod said. "They decide who goes to CIF, and they structure how their league champion is determined. We're not involved in that in any way."

League coaches considered filing a complaint to try and strip Crespi of its fifth straight league title and sanction Odman for weighing in his wrestlers before the rest of the teams arrived for Saturday's dual meet-style competition.

Chaminade of West Hills coach Dan Peiffer, Harvard-Westlake of Studio City's Gary Bairos, Brentwood of Los Angeles' Richard Ramos and Mission Hills' Lou Carmona speculated that Crespi's wrestlers might not have made weight.

Odman weighed in his team a second time in an attempt to quiet criticism, but coaches still had doubts because some said Odman did not make the results of the extra weigh-in available. Crespi's coach said he hid nothing from the rest of the coaches.

Odman's team takes on Santiago of Garden Grove at 11 a.m. on Saturday in the opening round of the Div. VI dual meet championships at Elsinore High in Wildomar.

Carmona said he was not pleased with the second weigh-in because it happened after the scales were supposed to be closed at 11 a.m., an hour before the start of the meet.

Despite the uncertainties, all coaches agreed to proceed with the meet, and Crespi clinched the league title.

"This is not a CIF issue," Odman said. "When I talked to (CIF), they thought it was preposterous.

"The moment (the other coaches) agreed to wrestle, they lost their grounds for a complaint. What's done is done. I did exactly what our league contract said. If the Mission League doesn't trust me then they can get a new rep. I got nothing to hide. These wrestling rivalries are for real. And I tell you this, it's lonely at the top."

Marmonte League co-champs have it tough: Royal of Simi Valley will seek another Southern Section dual-meet championship, this time in Div. II after the Marmonte League was realigned this offseason.

But the No. 4-ranked Highlanders might have to face top-ranked Laguna Hills in the semifinals after being drawn into the same part of the bracket as the Hawks. Coach Richard Carrillo's team will face Alta Loma in the opening round at 11 a.m. Saturday at North Torrance High.

The Highlanders split the league title with Thousand Oak.

The Lancers might not have it easy, either. Coach Kerry Lane's team drew Rancho Cucamonga, ranked No. 7 in Div. V, and with a win it could face North Torrance, the No. 2 team.

Highland could meet Morro Bay: Highland of Palmdale drew the No. 2 seed in the Div. V dual meet championships and will face Peninsula of Rolling Hills Estates.

The Bulldogs, who won their 13th Golden League title in the past 15 years and are ranked No. 2 in the division, could face their toughest task against Morro Bay, the No. 3 team, in the semis.

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