Novachkov puts on championship show at state wrestling tourney
Paly’s Hall finishes second, HMB’s Wilson takes third
By John Reid / Daily News Staff Writer
Fremont’s Boris Novachkov didn’t wait to shake Freedom’s David Prado’s hand after Novachkov’s 7-1 decision in Saturday night’s 125-pound title bout at the CIF State Wrestling Championships at the Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.
Before the post-match shake, the senior Novachkov did a back-flip, unable to contain his enthusiasm. It was the second state title in as many years for the Bulgarian-born Novachkov, who won state last year at 103 pounds. Fremont had three state champions in 2006, including Novachkov’s older brother, Filip. The pair will wrestle together at Cal Poly next season.
“There was some criticism before the season started that Boris couldn’t win state wrestling up three weight classes,” said Fremont’s co-coach Bobby Soto, who was a state runner-up for the Firebirds at 112 pounds, graduating in 1990. “Boris proved them wrong. Boris gets excited. The back-flip is his signature. He likes to put on a show.”
Novachkov, the No. 1 seed, had to wrestle what is known as pigtail, meaning an extra first-round match. He won six straight matches on his way to the title without being taken down once. Novachkov had two pins, including a pin at 1:32 over Kody Klaus of Vacaville in Saturday morning’s semifinals.
“When Boris had that pin on Klaus, I knew he was ready for the final,” Soto said.
Novachkov took down Prado for two points with 30 seconds to go in the first period.
“The only time I worry about Boris is in the first period,” Soto said. “That’s when I get nervous because sometimes it’s 0-0 after the first period. I felt better after he got that lead. Once he gets a lead, it’s over.”
Novachkov built up a 7-0 lead until he let Prado escape with 14 seconds left, such was Novachkov’s domination. Palo Alto’s John Hall became only the third wrestler in school history to reach the spotlight match on Saturday night, joining brothers Mark and Dave Schultz, who each won a state title for the Vikings. Hall placed second, losing to Rudi Burtschi of Oakdale in an 8-5 decision in the title match. Hall had pinned Ryan Smith of Temecula Valley at 2:58 in the semifinals.
“Hall’s strength is his work ethic,” Paly head coach Dave Duran said. “In my 20 years as a coach, I have never seen anyone work harder. The guys he beat in the semis and in the final have been wrestling since they were four or five years old. Hall started wrestling when he was a freshman in high school. He’s an example to the younger wrestlers that a lot of hard work will pay off.”
Half Moon Bay’s Joey Wilson became the highest placer in school history when he placed third at 152 pounds. Former Cougars wrestling coach and current athletic director at Half Moon Bay Matt Ballard had finished fifth at state for the Cougars at 189.
Wilson decisioned Poway’s Anthony Almanza 7-0 in the third-place match, avenging a 3-1 loss to Almanza earlier in the tournament. Wilson was ranked third entering the tournament and finished third, but the two wrestlers ranked ahead of Wilson didn’t place, an interesting note.
“We’re excited for Joey,” said Half Moon Bay coach Kirk Hinton, who was unable to make it to Bakersfield. “He has worked real hard for many years for this.”
Senior Naveed Bagheri of Los Gatos, a Central Coast Section runner-up, placed fifth at 125 when he defeated Caleb Vallotten of Foothill 9-2.
“The impact of the 125-pound weight class was unbelievable,” Los Gatos head coach Ken Perrotti-Troquato said. “Naveed did it with not his best wrestling. In one match, he was defensive after he got a lead, wrestling not to lose. That cost him the match.”
Bagheri will wrestle at the Senior Nationals in Virginia Beach at the end of the month, according to Perrotti-Troquato.
CCS champion Geoff Doss, a junior, placed sixth at 140 pounds, dropping a tough 3-1 decision to Scott Sakaguchi of Clovis in the fifth-place match.
“Geoff got some great experience that will help him next year,” Perrotti-Troquato said.
Vacaville won the team title with 124 points, while CCS champion Gilroy placed ninth with 62 points. Fremont tied for 31st with 31 points. Los Gatos tied for 38th with 29.5 points, while Palo Alto tied for 42nd with 27 points.
Oliver Salud wrote "Novachkov puts on championship show at state wrestling tourney" on March 6, 2007. This post has 
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