With more than half of their starters out of the lineup, the Cerritos College wrestling team had no answer for visiting Mt. San Antonio College in their Southwest Conference match and lost, 37-9. It marked the second loss in as many matches with the Mounties, who ended the Falcons four-year run as Southern California Team Dual champions. The team will take a week off before competing in the Cuesta Tournament on October 30.
The lone win on the mat for the Falcons came at 184 pounds, as Joseph Rodriguez (Paramount HS) held on for a 4-3 win. Trailing 3-0 after the first two periods, Rodriguez recorded an escape point and was then awarded a point when Ahmed Khattab was penalized for stalling. With the clock running out, Rodriguez was able to score a takedown with :21 seconds remaining and then held on to Khattab the rest of the way. The other victory came at 285 pounds, as the Mounties decided to forfeit, with freshman Jonovan Smith (Birminghan Charter HS) earning the win. Smith is currently ranked #1 in the state and the weight.
At 125 pounds, sophomore Isaiah Perez (Sonora HS) was in a battle with Christopher Betancourt in the first match of the night. Perez was the only one to score through the first two periods, with Betancourt securing a point with riding time, as Perez was unable to escape during the 2:00 of the second period. Most of the scoring took place in the final minute, as Betancourt recorded a takedown with 1:05 remaining for a 4-3 lead, with Perez able to escape to tie the match :15 seconds later. But it was the takedown by Betancourt that turned out to be the winning points, as Perez picked up an escape point with :26 seconds remaining, but could not take down Betancourt and suffered a 6-5 loss.
125 Pounds - Christopher Betancourt (MSAC) def. Isaiah Perez (CERR), 6-5
133 Pounds - David Saenz (MSAC) pinned Shawn Martinez (CERR), 2:45
141 Pounds - Thomas Chapman (MSAC) pinned Brennan Wells (CERR), 6:00
149 Pounds - Mark Martinez (MSAC) def. Kai Ocampo (CERR), 8-3
157 Pounds - Bradley Chirino (MSAC) def. Felix Osorio (CERR), 7-0
165 Pounds - Jerry Rubio (MSAC) win by forfeit
174 Pounds - Wetzel Hill (MSAC) pinned Cobe Hatcher (CERR), 4:15
184 Pounds - Joseph Rodriguez (CERR) def. Ahmed Khattab (MSAC), 4-3
197 Pounds - Nate Hendricks (MSAC) def. Justin Sawai (CERR), 16-6
285 Pounds - Jonovan Smith (CERR) win by forfeit
Photos by Daryl Peterson
