COSTA MESA-- A full Freed Center for Leadership & Service witnessed Vanguard men's wrestling win its season debut last night.  VU defeated Victor Valley College 47-6, losing only one weight class during the meeting.

It took all three periods for Kelan Stever to eventually get the better of Samson Zilius at 174 pounds, as Zilius found three escapes to avoid an early elimination, but Stever prevailed 21-3.  Marquize Brown easily handed Maximus Stevenson a 18-0 technical fall victory at 184 pounds, while it took just a small opening for Kayden Cartee to make an immediate impact in his VU debut, as he flipped Jasper Garcia for a pin in the first frame at 197 pounds.

David Baxter gave up one escape but otherwise held sway over Jeff Truitt at the heavyweight class, with Baxter eventually taking an 11-1 lead and flipping that into a pin in the second frame.  The card then moved to the lightweights, with Troy Montero fighting Paulo Valdez at 125 pounds. Montero had a tough scrap, and though he almost scored a takedown, who would be pinned in the second frame to VVC its only win of the night.  Zachary Klarcyk made his 2026-27 debut against Jose Molina, and he made plenty of scoring moves en route to a victory over Jose Molina at 133 pounds.   Fernando Barreto Jr. rapidly acquired a pin over Eion Jackson at 141 pounds in his return to the mat, and Hercules Windrath had plenty of takedowns to tally another VU technical fall at 149 pounds over Noah Villatora.  Vince Partington controlled Jesse Wilson through all three periods, with Partington prevailing 11-4. Anthony Manno closed out the contest at 165 pounds against Jonathan Ugarte, with Manno sealing the first win of the season with an 18-2 technical fall decision.

What's Next?  The Lions head to the Menlo Open on Saturday.