Costa Mesa -- Vanguard men's wrestling took to the mat Friday night in Cascade Collegiate Conference play against Menlo.  While the Lions had a few bright spots, the Oaks took the majority of the points, winning by a final score of 33-7.  The Oaks are now 3-0 in CCC duals while the Lions fall to 1-3 overall and 0-3 in conference play.

What Happened?  With injuries still plaguing the squad, VU could not field anyone at the 125-pound weight, giving Menlo six points to start the match.  The programs, therefore, squared up for real at 133 pounds, as Sunny Luna (SO/Victorville, CA) faced Jacob Mendoze.  Mendoze got the first and only takedown in the first period, giving him a 2-0 lead after three minutes of action.  Luna made an escape to start the second but that was all he could muster, as Mendoze collected five more takedowns over the second and third periods to win 12-1.

Vanguard struck back in the 141-pound bout, as Steven Kroesen (SO/Laguna Hills, CA) overpowered Logan Avina-Barajas.  With two takedowns in the first, Kroesen only gave up one escape to the Oak's wrestler.  He made another stellar takedown in the second and put down three more in the third and final period.  Avina-Barajas made a couple of escapes but never threatened to strike back at Kroesen, as the reigning CCC wrestler of the week took the match 12-4.

Adam Valdez (SR/Barstow, CA) then took to the mat for the Blue and Gold against Elijah Palacio at 149 pounds.  Both wrestlers stood their ground throughout the match but Palacio found the small openings and made them pay off, as he eventually took the match 11-0.  The 157-pound match saw Vanguard's Omar Rosas (SO/El Centro, CA) take on Abraham Del Torro and the Oak's once again got all the points, as Del Torro pounced early and often on Rosas, taking the win 13-3.

The match of the night was Rysan Leong against Ricky Padilla (SR/Azusa, CA) at 165-pounds, with the crowd urging each wrestler on with loud chants the entire time.  Both contestants were on their feet for a majority of the dual, and just when one thought he had an edge, the other wriggled free to avoid any takedowns during regulation.  Leong started down on the mat in the second period and escaped to earn his first point, with Padilla replicating that feat to start the third period.  With the match tied, sudden victory was needed.  Again, each wrestler had a chance for a takedown but the other would do just enough to escape a decisive move.  Each earned an escape but with no takedowns, Leong was granted the win based on riding time in the extra periods for a final decision score of 3-2.

Max Zamora then took on Luke Lussier (SO/Victorville, CA), who found himself unable to score against Menlo's 174-pound wrestler.  Zamora picked up six points in the first period, one takedown in the second, and six more points in the third for the 14-0 win. 

Baron Gaunt (FR/Torrance, CA) got the nod at 184-pounds for the Lions and he faced Jordan Bernal in a very tight match.  Gaunt had some positive moments but could not convert them into any attacking points.  Mustering only four escapes, he trailed 5-4 in the third and could not grab a late winner, as Bernal held on for the close decision win.

It was the same story at 197-pounds, as Isaiah Hernandez (FR/Selma, CA) took on Hunter James.  James made a takedown in the first and the third to force Hernandez to make a move, but the VU wrestler could not find a takedown, as James held on to win 5-3.  Hernandez only earned points from escapes in the match. 

Despite the team result being out of reach for the Blue and Gold, that did not stop Mike Ruiz (FR/Orange, CA) from ending the night on a positive note for VU.  He was matched up against Tyler Gianakopulos in the heavyweight class and both wrestlers emerged with zero points after the first period.  With an escape in hand after the second period, Ruiz made two good lunges that resulted in takedowns in the third to win 5-2.  However, when it was all said and done, the final team score favored Menlo 33-7.

Why is it Important?  The Lions are now 0-2 against the Oaks.  Padilla also picks up his first loss of the year after he was voted as the best wrestler in the NAIA at 165 in the coaches' poll released earlier today.

What was Said? "Tonight we didn't bring our A-game," said Head Coach Caleb Flores.  "There were a lot of close matches and Menlo won all of them, and you have to give them credit.  We have to learn from those matches and move forward."

What's Next?  The Lions will again travel to San Dimas for the Life Pacific Duals on December 11, starting at 9:00 a.m.