COSTA MESA -- Vanguard women's wrestling competed in one final home dual on Wednesday night against the Cerritos College Falcons and the two programs put on a quality show.  Unfortunately, two open classes doomed the Lions, who lost 26-24 to the Falcons.
 
What Happened?  Abbeygael Cabuag started the event for the Lions at 103 pounds and though it took a little time in the first period for her to getting rolling, she found her stride and led 10-1 at the end of the frame against Darci Chiu.  Cabuag made short work of the Falcon to start the second half, as she completed a four-point takedown to pick up a 14-1 technical fall victory.  The Lions were open at 110 pounds and Mya Crespo did her best against Vivian Nguyen at 117 pounds as she looked to level the overall score.  Crespo picked up the first takedown, but that was all she could get, as Nguyen racked up 12 points for a technical fall 12-2 win.
 
Megan Sognefest and Mikayla Marquez squared off at 124 pounds and Sognefest had the better time as she found three takedowns that led to a pin to claim maximum points for the Falcons.  But VU got back at Cerritos thanks to Elena Ramirez, who put the pedal down for an 8-3 lead after one period over Denise Figueroa.  Ramirez got two takedowns to increase the lead to 12-3 and then held on for dear life as Figueroa came all the way back to within one at 12-11.  Fortunately, time expired, giving the Lions three points to trail 16-9 in the dual.
 
Devyn McCormick and Rontaysia Payne fought in the 138-pound contest and McCormick could not get anything going, as Payne went on to win 10-0.  However, Vanguard won the rest of the contested weight classes.
 
Ireri Mares went down against Saquoia Dubuque at 145 pounds, but she then made a takedown that flipped her fortunes, as one takedown led to another, and Mares then clamped Dubuque to the mat for a pin.  Johanna Forman made an early takedown and then stuck Vida Beckel to the mat for another pin and Lily El-Masri did much the same to Kinsey Konrad to put the Blue and Gold ahead 24-20 in the dual.  But the Lions were open in the heavyweight class, giving Cerritos six points to win 26-24.
 
What was Said?  "Nothing better than a home match with an electric atmosphere.  A great evening of wrestling," said Head Coach Joe Evano.