Wrestling: Conference season opens with 35-15 win

Women's Track & Field competed at the Cal State Long Beach Invitational
Women's Track & Field competed at the Cal State Long Beach Invitational

In their first Southwest Conference match of the season, the Cerritos College wrestling team posted a 35-15 win over host Palomar College. The victory by the Falcons also improves their season record to 9-0, to go along with one tournament championship. The team will now compete in the Southern California Team Duals on Saturday.

Aiding the win were five wins by pin, as well as a technical fall for the Falcons. Getting things started for the team was freshman Norberto Buenrostro (Citrus Hill HS), who was leading 7-2 when he recorded his pin at 125 pounds in the first period. Sophomore Richard Pocock (California HS) had a quick handle on Miguel Flores at 141 pounds and needed just :52 seconds to earn the team six points.

At 149 pounds, freshman Wyatt Gerl (Downey Calvary Chapel HS) was trailing Chris Kimball, 2-0 after the first period, but started the second period on top and worked his way into a pin just :45 seconds in and gave the team an 18-3 lead. After a loss at 157 pounds, freshman Kennith Kirk (Elsinore HS) broke open a close 2-0 lead after the first period and went on for a convincing 16-0 technical fall win.

The match was clinched by the Falcons at 174 pounds after freshman Blake Vasquez (Fountain Valley HS) came back from a 3-1 second period deficit and stuck Braulio Banuelos for a pin in 3:30, with freshman David Van Weems (Corona Centennial HS) closing out the scoring with a pin in :45 second against Jesse Gomez at 197 pounds.

Although the team recorded the win, 157-pound sophomore Dylan Moreno (Downey HS) suffered his first setback of the season, while 133-pound sophomore Anthony Vargas (Citrus Hill HS) and 285-pound freshman David Zavala (Lakewood HS) were defeated for just the second time on the year.

125 Pounds - Norberto Buenrostro (CERR) pinned Brandon McCurdy (PAL), 2:05
133 Pounds - Jake Schaeffer (PAL) def. Anthony Vargas (CERR), 2-0
141 Pounds - Richard Pocock (CERR) pinned Miguel Flores (PAL), :52
149 Pounds - Wyatt Gerl (CERR) pinned Chris Kimball (PAL), 3:45
157 Pounds - Cameron Cox (PAL) def. Dylan Moreno (CERR), 7-1
165 Pounds - Kennith Kirk (CERR) tech fall Lee Valdez (PAL), 16-0
174 Pounds - Blake Vasquez (CERR) pinned Braulio Banuelos (PAL), 3:30
184 Pounds - Bruce Valdez (PAL) def. Isaiah Leyva (CERR), 8-5
197 Pounds - David Van Weems (CERR) pinned Jesse Gomez (PAL), :45
285 Pounds - Seville Hayes (PAL) pinned David Zavala (CERR), 2:45