Prep Wrestling: Titans look to halt Clovis’ state-title streak

Liam Sorahan plans to do a lot of stretching and cleaning at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, site of the CIF State Wrestling Championships.

The 222-pound Poway High senior enters the tournament undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the state.

But he almost wishes he would have lost once, just so he wouldn’t have to stick with a few of his tedious superstitions.

Sorahan stretches his hamstrings before every match — holding the stretch one second for every win he has this season (42).

He also has a thing about trash. If he sees a water bottle left behind, he has to pick it up and throw it away.

“I know these are weird and that none of it makes sense,” said Sorahan, who captured his first San Diego Section Masters title Saturday. “And I know that I am not winning because of these. But now I have to do all this stuff. It started off OK for the first six matches, but at this point of the season it is like a chore.”

Sorahan is one of 15 local wrestlers that will compete in the state tournament Friday and Saturday. Thirteen of those 15 are from Poway and the other two — Chasen Blair and Corbin Grenowich — are from Rancho Bernardo.

The Titans, ranked No. 9 in the nation and No. 3 in the state, are once again chasing four-time defending champion Clovis. The Cougars qualified all 14 of their wrestlers to the tournament.

“I think we have a shot,” Sorahan said of Poway’s chances at winning the program’s fifth state championship. “Clovis has 14 guys, but if one goes 0-2 it is just like they were not there. I think we are much closer to Clovis than we have been in past years.”

The Titans have been enjoying one of their best seasons in school history. They have won every tournament they have been in and had a school-record eight champions at last weekends Masters Championships at El Centro Southwest High.

Sorahan and defending 160-pound state champion Colt Doyle both enter the state meet unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in the state. Titans’ senior Ralphy Tovar (145 pounds) is also ranked No. 1 in the state. The trio are hoping to cap their careers with individual and state titles.

“This is the tournament that matters,” said Doyle, who won his first Masters title Saturday. “I wouldn’t care if we lost all the other tournaments and only won state. People like me, Liam and Ralphy need to motivate the team to step up. Some of our guys are not ranked high, but I think if we motivate them, then we could win state.”

Poway will need its stars to take down anyone in a Clovis singlet. Sorahan could get the chance against No. 2 in the state, freshman Seth Nevills. Tovar could get the chance against No. 9 in the state, Lane Barnes. Doyle could get a shot against No. 3 in the state, Dominic Kincaid.

“I am excited for that opportunity,” Sorahan said. “I can see it coming down to me and Nevills. I can see it coming down to a big match.”

Blair will make his first appearance at the state championships. The 182-pound sophomore avenged two defeats to Poway’s Andrew Tausch earlier with a 3-0 win in the Masters final. Blair is the first Bronco to win a Masters title since Evan McKirdy and Zach Merrit both did in 2011.

Grenowich will also be making his debut at state. The 222-pound senior took third at the Masters tournament and is ranked No. 17 in California.

Other Poway Masters tournament champions were: Chase Zollman (108), Jason Chua (115), Brandon Kier (122), Manny Lair (134) and Chris Bailey (197).

The state wrestling championships will be streamed live on twccommunity.com on Saturday. The semifinals start at 9:30 a.m., the placing matches at 12:30 p.m. and the finals at 7:15 p.m.