Hosting Fresno City College in the CCCAA Team Dual State Championships on Sunday, the Cerritos College wrestling team came up short in a 26-15 decision. The meeting against the state's top-ranked Rams in the team dual state championship match was the fifth in the last seven years, with the #2-ranked Falcons winning only in 2016. Fresno City defeated the Falcons from 20-17-19 and 2022.
The team will now prepare for the Southern California Championships, which will take place on December 3 at East Los Angeles College.
The Falcons had an outside chance at coming away with the win, as they trailed, 20-12 with two matches remaining. At 197 pounds, #4-ranked freshman Malachi Lyles (Mayfair HS) was squaring off against #3-ranked Rudy Garcia, and any combination of pin/win or major/technical fall in the last two matches would score the Falcons nine team points and the team title. Lyles, who fell behind, 2-1 after the first period, looked to secure an underhook with thoughts of throwing Garcia to get him on his back. However, the stocky Garcia was able to hold his ground and muscled his way to get Lyles on his back. Garcia then secured the team championship for Fresno with a pin in 1:51.
The night ended with freshman 285-pound Kobe Pablo (Cypress HS) going to double overtime against Javier Martinez. The match was tied, 1-1 after the first seven minutes and then three more minutes in overtime. In the first of two :30-second double overtime periods, Pablo started in the down position, but was able to maneuver around Martinez and recorded a two-point reversal within the first seven seconds. In the second period, Martinez earned an escape point to make it a 3-2 match with Pablo holding off Martinez the remainder of the period for the victory.
Cerritos took a 6-5 team lead when Fresno City's Devin Murphy had to end the match against Anthony Pereyra (Lakeside HS) at 133 pounds with an injury, which earned the Falcons six team points. At the time of the injury, Pereyra was leading, 3-2 in the first period. The last lead the team would hold came after sophomore Felix Osorio (Santa Fe HS) earned a 9-8 win over Nick Dehart for a 9-8 team score lead. Ranked #2 in the state Osorio picked up a pair of takedowns in the first period and extended his lead in the second period to 6-3 with another takedown with 1:28 left in the period. A quick escape point to start the third period put Osorio up, 7-4, while he earned a riding time point for an 8-4 victory.
In the first of two overtime matches on the night, sophomore Armando Murillo (Rowland HS) recorded a 3-1 win at 165 pounds against Roman Mendez. Ranked #3 in the state at 174 pounds, Murillo was scoreless with the top-ranked 165-pound Mendes through the first period. Each recorded an escape point for a 1-1 tie through regulation. In the 3:00 overtime, Murillo recorded a takedown with 1:17 remaining for the 3-1 victory.
WEIGHT-BY-WEIGHT DECISIONS
125 Pounds - Ezekian Jaurrieta (FCC) technical fall over Jameer McCrae (CERR), 18-3
133 Pounds - Anthony Pereyra (CERR) win by injury default over Devin Murphy (FCC)
141 Pounds - Abraham Cerda (FCC) def. Mario De La Torre (CERR), 4-3
149 Pounds - Felix Osorio (CERR) def. Nick Dehart (FCC), 8-4
157 Pounds - Noah Cortez (FCC) pinned Trevor Thompson (CERR), 2:49
165 Pounds - Armando Murillo (CERR) def. Roman Mendez (FCC), 3-1 (OT)
174 Pounds - Reymundo Raiz (FCC) def. Stone Robledo (CERR), 10-3
184 Pounds - Jake Prudek (FCC) def. Rafael Guerra (CERR), 9-2
197 Pounds - Rudy Garcia (FCC) pinned Malachi Lyles (CERR), 1:51
285 Pounds - Kobe Pablo (CERR) def. Javier Martinez (FCC), 3-2 (2OT)
Photos by Daryl Peterson
