Wrestling: Five wrestlers sign with four-year schools

Keanu Tom and Dustin Kirk sign NLI with King University
Keanu Tom and Dustin Kirk sign NLI with King University

Not long after winning the fourth state championship in school history, five members of the Cerritos College wrestling team have signed National Letters of Intent with four-year schools. Of the five, three of them won state championships this season in their respective weight classes. Dustin Kirk and Keanu Tom have signed with King (TN) University, Dylan Clarke with Concordia (NE) University, Jeremiah Gerl with Cal Baptist University, while Robert Chism is already taking classes at Lindenwood (MO) University. The Falcons (14-2) won five tournament championships during the season.

Kirk won the state championship at 133 pounds, with Tom winning the 157-pound championship.
The wins by both Kirk and Tom avenged losses they both suffered during the season. In the championship match, Kirk (36-1), who lost to Palomar College's Alberto Garcia, 10-9 in the Southern California Championships, came out aggressively and broke open a close 4-4 match with a late escape point in the second period with an early escape point in the third period and late takedown to finish him off. As for Tom (34-3), his loss to Fresno City's Adrian Gomez in the semifinals of the Fresno Open was his lone loss to a wrestler from California this year. Tom trailed 3-1 after the second period, but an escape and takedown with :35 second left gave him a 4-3 lead. Gomez tied it with :14 second remaining in the third period and in overtime, and aggressive Tom got a takedown with :25 seconds left to win the title.

Chism was the most dominant heavyweight this past season and went 26-0 with championships in the Southern California Championships, Fresno Open, Santa Ana Tournament and West Hills Tournament. He capped off the season by pinning teammate Jesse Gomez in the state championships. As for Clarke and Gerl, they both finished in third place at the state championships. Clarke won his first match and then lost to drop to the consolation bracket. He posted four straight wins, including two pins, come in third place at 174 pounds. Gerl advanced to the semifinals at 197 pounds, but was defeated in sudden death by teammate Oscar Martinez.