Channel League Race Tightening Up : Contenders: While Dos Pueblos rebuilds, other schools move to challenge for championship.

For 11 consecutive years, Dos Pueblos High wrestlers have appeared at the Channel League championships, pinned their opponents’ shoulders to the mat, and walked away with at least a part of the team title.

Buena, which tied for the championship in 1986, is the only school other than Dos Pueblos to have its name inscribed on a league trophy since 1978.

But with the advent of the ‘90s Dos Pueblos, which won the Southern Section 3-A Division crown last year, is rebuilding. Several schools now have a chance to leave the Feb. 10 Channel League championships with the top prize.

Dos Pueblos’ position this season is unusual for Coach Mike Hart, whose teams have won 15 league titles in his 19 seasons and are 249-17. But don’t expect the Chargers to roll over for the three-count.

Andy Knightley (191 pounds) was fourth in the Southern Section last year and is the defending league champion. Jim Thompson (132) has won two tournaments this season and Cy Bruener (145) is a developing junior.

“We may be rebuilding, but we’ll find a way before it’s over,” Hart said.

Rio Mesa Coach Todd Stoke agreed: “Mike is a wizard and he always manages to do well.”

But winning won’t come easily to any team in a league considered one of the best around.

“You can’t take anybody for granted,” Ventura Coach Paul Clementi said. “There’s probably more balance than ever before. It’s going to be a tough year.”

It has been easier than expected for Ventura, which won the 25-team Newbury Park Invitational and was sixth in the West Coast Classic at Rosemead. The title in Newbury Park represented the first major wrestling tournament victory in school history.

“Everything is clicking for us right now and, surprisingly, we’re doing very well,” Clementi said. “We had some outstanding underclassmen who weren’t tested. But, so far, they’ve passed the tests.”

John Atherton (98) has the highest marks, winning individual titles at the Rosemead and Newbury Park tournaments. Atherton, sixth in the Southern Section meet last year, is 10-0.

“He is very quick and his conditioning is quite good,” Clementi said. “He’s ready to go in the third period, when a lot of kids pack up their tents.”

Tommy Hernandez (112) and Jaime Sanchez (126) placed in both tournaments, and sophomore Jeff Byrd (138) was second at Newbury Park and third at Rosemead. Eric Dobroth (145) won his weight division at the Newbury Park tournament. Larry Veith (165) is yet another talented Cougar.

“We have a good blend of experienced wrestlers coming back, with some real tough first-year wrestlers,” Clementi said.

San Marcos, which Clementi said might have the best athletes, won the West Coast Classic and was third at Newbury Park. The Royals are led by senior Robby Baptista (177), who qualified for the Southern Section championship last year.

“He’s one of the top wrestlers in the state, much less the area,” Stoke said.

Stoke has some talent of his own, but it probably won’t be a good as the 26-1 team that was third in the Southern Section and 17th in the state last year.

Robby Cook (second in the state at 134 pounds) and Tony Flores (second in the state at 177) are now competing for Moorpark College. They are among a quality group that graduated and left Stoke with a team that is 9-8-1.

“We’re basically just a little better than average,” Stoke said.

But Rio Mesa is still one of the stronger teams in the league. Richard Brenner (98) is 12-3, Jeff Chavez (119) is 13-4, and Bill Moreno (138) is 10-3-1.

Oxnard is expected to be much improved, and the Yellowjackets have finished second at the Gahr tournament and seventh at Newbury Park. Ray Melchior (154) was sixth in the Southern Section last year and Mike Tellez (138) is 10-1 this season.

Buena was not expected to be as strong as it has looked thus far. The Bulldogs finished third at Newbury Park and are led in part by heavyweight Kory Booth, who won the heavyweight title at Newbury Park.

“Buena will be up there with everybody else,” Clementi said.

The Marmonte League boasts one of the finest wrestlers in California in Westlake’s Billy Hunter (175), who was second in the state at 165 pounds last year. Hunter is 13-0 and has won three most-valuable-wrestler awards in as many tournaments.

Hunter will receive quality support from David Schumm (191), Farzin Daneshnia (112) and Neal Mason (154). The four are undefeated in 54 matches and make the Warriors one of the early season favorites.

“We’re optimistic but cautious,” Westlake Coach Larry Stonebraker said.

That feeling exists in part because of the talent at Newbury Park and Channel Islands.

Newbury Park is led by heavyweight Jeff Jay, third in the Southern Section 4-A meet last year. And Channel Islands has a trio of skilled juniors in T. R. Merickel (112), Balo Barajas (119) and Gabe Ramos (165).

“We’ve been battling with Channel Islands and Newbury Park over the years, and it doesn’t look like things will change much,” Stonebraker said.

Camarillo also has a talented team that includes Scott Bateman, one of the county’s top sophomores. Bateman finished second at Newbury Park and is 9-1.