Corona del Sol wrestling coach Dave Vibber had high expectations for his squad coming into this season after finishing second in the state last year.

After a second consecutive dominating performance in the McClintock Invitational at McClintock High School in Tempe on Saturday, Vibber has good reason to believe that his team can match, or even exceed, last season’s achievements.

The Aztecs placed six wrestlers in the finals, earning three titles, and scored 227.5 points to beat Mesquite (140.5) by nearly 90 points.

Chandler High finished third with 138 as Hamilton (132) and Basha (125) rounded out the top five.

Corona’s most impressive wrestler Saturday was defending 215-pound state champion Luke Macchiaroli, who went 53-0 en route to his title last year and officially committed to wrestle at collegiate powerhouse Iowa State next year. He pinned all four of his opponents in the tournament, including an impressive performance in the finals where he led 15-5 before ending the match with another pin.

“These kids are good,” said a confident Macchiaroli, “but I’m trying to get to a different level so that when I get to college, I’m ready. I wouldn’t say it was easy, but I like to dominate. That’s what I do.”

After the meet, a joking Macchiaroli prepared to put his fancy footwork to use as he had to don a tuxedo and go to a friend’s ball. Not even the fact that he didn’t win outstanding wrestler of the tournament could dampen his joyous mood.

“I’m kind of disappointed because I won it last year and really wanted it this year,” said Macchiaroli, “but I’m just glad the team won.”

His Aztec teammates had plenty of success throughout the tournament as well. Ryan Miller (145 pounds) repeated as champion in the tournament, while 160-pound Derek Felton — a two-time state runner-up and runner-up in the Invitational last year — finally got his victory with a pin in the finals. In the end, Corona placed eight wrestlers in the top 3 of their respective classes.

The outstanding wrestler honors went to Phoenix Shadow Mountain’s 285-pounder Doug Zigman and Mesa Desert Ridge’s 103-pound champion Nate Covarrubias.

Like Macchiaroli, Covarrubias dominated his competition, winning each of his five matches by pin. As a freshman last year, he finished fourth in the state and has high goals for this year.

“First in the state. I think I can win it,” he said before correcting himself, “I know I can.”

In the 112-pound class, defending Fiesta Region champion Chad Done from Gilbert Highland avenged a second-place finish in last year’s Invitational by handing Basha’s James Romo his first lost of the season.

Two defending state champions, Scottsdale Desert Mountain’s Shane McGough (125) and Highland’s Blake Mabry (135), won their respective weight classes.

In one of the more inspiring stories of the night, Emmanuel del Castillo of Higley won the 140-pound division. Del Castillo, who struggled to gain respect last year at Chandler High before switching to Higley, beat former Wolves teammate Manny Reyes for his victory.