COSTA MESA -- The opening Mountain Pacific Sports Federation dual for Vanguard and Menlo men's wrestling went to the Oaks on Saturday morning. Every weight class went the distance, but VU only won three of the encounters to fall 25-10 and drop to 0-2 in duals, while Menlo improved to 2-0.
What Happened? Jovanni Evangelista and Roberto Lopez squared off at 125 pounds, and though Roberto got the first takedown, Evangelista responded with an escape to trail 3-1 after one period. Evangelista tried to get some points in the third after playing defense in the second, but Lopez made a late takedown to win 8-1.
Zachary Klarcyk faced Atridad Feizi at 133 pounds and Klarcyk made a takedown in the first to lead 3-0 after three minutes. Feizi made an escape in the second and Klarcyk got one to open the third to keep a three-point lead. Though Klarcyk got a couple of stall warnings, giving Feizi and penalty point, that was all the scoring in the tussel, as Klarcyk won 4-2 to tie the dual at 3-3.
Robert Villegas was taken down by Michael Torres to start the 141-pound bout, but Villegas then got an escape to get on the board. Another Torres takedown in the final minute of the first was followed by a couple more, as the Oak won 15-3.
Vince Partington took on Jeramiah Steele at 149 pounds, but Steele led 5-0 after one frame. Though Partington got an escape in the second, Steele would go on to win 13-2, putting MC up 11-3 in the dual.
Neither
Bryant Avila nor Ezekiel Lara got a point in the first, but Lara got an escape to open the third. Lara then got a takedown, which put things away in the 157-pound contest, as Lara won 5-0.
Sunni Motas trailed 3-0 after one period at 165 pounds against Kana'i Tapia, and though Motas got an escape, Tapia prevailed 11-1 to put MC up 18-3 in the dual.
Isaiah Morales had the first points against
Mason Hernandez at 174 pounds and though Hernandez got some escapes, Morales went on to win 18-4 to put the Oaks up 22-3.
Marquize Brown and Mathias Collins were up next at 184 pounds and Brown got an escape and a takedown to lead 4-3 after the opening period. Holding Collins down in the second, Brown got a takedown in the third to get VU back on the scoreboard with a 10-4 decision.
Isaiah Johnson faced Diego Morales at 197 pounds, with Johnson coming close a couple of times to getting a takedown as he wore Morales down. However, he could not complete a move and Morales eked out a 4-2 decision win.
David Baxter toke on Cole Steketee at the heavyweight class and Baxter got a takedown in the first period to jump ahead. He went on to make two more to claim the final class of the day with a 12-2 victory.
What's Next? The Blue and Gold are off to the Desert Duals in Las Vegas on December 17.
