Hunter Tops Wrestling Contenders

Westlake High’s Billy Hunter is the favorite in the 175-pound division in the state championships today and Saturday at University of the Pacific in Stockton.

Hunter, who won the Southern Section 4-A Division title last Saturday and is 37-0 with 30 pins, finished second at 175 pounds in last year’s state meet. He lost, 1-0, to Katella’s Joe Pastorello.

Hunter is one of five Valley-area Southern Section wrestlers who will make the trip. Westlake’s Farzin Daneshnia (112) and Neal Mason (154), Agoura’s Steve Baer (105), and Newbury Park’s Jeff Jay (heavyweight) each finished third in the 4-A meet and will make their first appearances in the state meet.

Four wrestlers from El Camino Real qualified for the state meet by winning their respective weight classes in the City Section finals: David Aparicio (112), Greg McMurray (119), Rob Steinbock (145), and Saul Emard (165).

Canoga Park’s Mario Acosta (98), Steve Pratt (126) and Chris Camarena (132) qualified, as did San Fernando’s Greg Tan (154), Granada Hills’ Karl Finley (175), Birmingham’s Barak Isaacs (191) and Chatsworth’s Lester Martinez (heavyweight).