RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Vanguard men's wrestling started the year Saturday by taking on Cal Baptist. The Lancers and the Lions had some spirited bouts but the NCAA DI hosts did not disappoint the home faithful, winning 32-6. The Lions picked up two individual victories on the day as Joey Navarro (FR/Holtsville, CA) and Gerardo Hernandez (SR/Mission Viejo, CA) each claimed decision victories.
What Happened? Zach Stone (FR/Yorba Linda, CA) started things off for the team at 125-pounds but he was brought down and pinned by Elijah Griffin at the 2:39 mark of the first period. Julian Leon (FR/Fontana, CA) then took to the mat for VU but Hunter Leake claimed the 133-pound bout with ease with a 10-0 major decision.
Steven Kroesen (JR/Laguna Hills, CA) then went out for the 141-pound dual against Christian Nunez and the "Chosen Kroesen" put up a fight. He made the first takedown of the bout and went up 3-2 before Nunez tied things up late in the first. Kroesen then slipped his guard and made a big move to nab a 6-3 edge, but Nunez scored three-straight points in the second period to tie things at 6-6. That filled the third frame with drama, with Nunez making the first takedown. Kroesen made one escape but could not find a takedown himself, falling 9-7 when riding time was added in. Marcus Peterson then took on Gabriel Cortez (JR/Covina, CA) at 149-pounds. Cortez made the first takedown but Peterson controlled the match from there, winning 9-3.
Navarro made his season debut by taking on Nolan Miller-Johnston, who had been a junior college All-American in California last year. But Navarro was not intimidated, as he made the lone takedown in the first period to take the lead. Ahead 2-1 entering the third period, Navarro made another quality takedown to go up 4-1. There were then a number of delays as Miller-Johnston dealt with an injury, but Navarro did not let him score again, with Navarro winning 7-3. Omar Rosas (SO/El Centro, CA) then walked out for the 165-pound matchup against Mitchell Mesenbrink, but the Lancer put Rosas down and pinned him just over 90 seconds into the first period.
Hernandez took on Louis Rojas at 174-pounds and the CBU wrestler was on the back foot for most of the match. Hernandez made two clean takedowns in the first to go ahead 4-2. He made an escape in the second, the only points of the period, and made two more takedowns in the third, winning 10-5 when riding time was added in.
The season opener for Baron Gaunt (SO/Torrance, CA)'s (SO/Torrance, CA) did not go as planned, as he took on Caden Gerlach. Gaunt was only down 2-0 after the first period but Gerlach picked up the tempo in the third to take a major decision victory 12-3. Gaunt grabbed his only takedown in the final frame of the matchup.
Elijah Sobas and Isaiah Hernandez (SO/Selma, CA) then produced a tightly contested match at 197-pounds. Hernandez made a takedown to open the first period but Sobas made an escape. Sobas made one more escape in the second and then began working Hernandez to the ground, as Sobas picked up the win 3-2 based on riding time. It would be a similar story between Chris Island and Mike Ruiz (SO/Orange, CA) in the heavyweight class. Ruiz went down 4-1 midway through the second period but made an escape to trail 4-2 entering the third. However, despite a good effort, he could not collect a takedown, dropping his first match of the year.
What was Said? "Our guys wrestled well," said Head Coach Caleb Flores. "We lost three two-point matches that we had chances to win. We have to learn from these matches and move on to next week."
What's Next? The team will practice for a few days before heading to Prescott, Arizona, for two events at Embry-Riddle. The Mile High Duals will take place on Friday, November 11 and the Mile High Open will take place next Saturday, November 12th.
