In their first competition of the season, the Cerritos College wrestling team posted four wins at the Bakersfield Duals on Saturday. The Falcons (4-0) recorded wins over West Hills College (43-0), East Los Angeles College (32-18), Victor Valley College (36-19) and then shut out the host Renegades, 49-0. The team will compete in the Mt. San Antonio Duals next Saturday.

Cerritos vs. West Hills: The Falcons earned three wins by pinfall, while winning the other seven matches in regulation. The day started with freshman Norberto Buenrostro (Citrus Hill HS) earning a first period fall and was leading 10-0 at the time of the decision. At 141 pounds, sophomore Richard Pocock (California HS) was leading 12-0 when he earned his pin, while freshman 285-pound David Zavala (Lakewood HS) earned a quick pin in the first period. Earning big wins in the team victory were sophomore Jacob Valdes (Warren HS) at 133 pounds (8-2), sophomore Dylan Moreno (Downey HS) at 165 pounds (10-3) and freshman 197-pound David Van Weems (Corona Centennial HS), who registered an 11-2 victory.

Cerritos vs. East Los Angeles College: Trailing 15-8 after a loss by pin at 157 pounds, the Falcons went on to win four consecutive matches by pinfall in the first period to forge a win. It started with freshman Kennith Kirk (Elsinore HS) at 165 pounds, while freshman Isaiah Leyva (San Jacinto HS) followd at 174 pounds to put the team in the lead. Freshman Darrin Windes (Brea Olinda HS) earned the team's fourth straight pin at 184 pounds, with freshman 197-pound Angel Barajas (John Glenn HS) capping off the victory with a pin. Also earning wins in the match were Valdes (13-6) and 125 pounds and freshman Johnathan Knowles (John Glenn HS), a 15-5 winner at 149 pounds.

Cerritos vs. Victor Valley: The team's third straight win of the day was another comeback after a couple of early losses put the team behind 12-0. Freshman Vincent Dehakiz (El Dorado HS) got the team on the board with a first period pin, while the Falcons were the recipients of five forfeits against an undermanned Rams team.

Cerritos vs. Bakersfield: The day concluded with the Falcons coming right back and earning five pins against the Renegades in their second shutout win of the afternoon. At 125 pounds Buenrostro opened with a first period pin, with Knowles adding a pin in a dominant second period at 149 pounds. Kirk picked up a win at 165 pounds with a first period pin and was followed with another pin from 174-pound freshman Blake Vasquez (Fountain Valley HS). Zavala posted a quick pin in the first period at 285 pounds, while sophomore Anthony Vargas (Citrus HS) earned an 18-4 win at 133 pounds. Sophomore Kevin James (Redondo Union HS) was a 14-3 winner at 157 pounds, with both Bryant Vasquez (Fountain Valley HS) and Van Weems also winning at 184 pounds and 197 pounds, respectively.

Photos by John Sachs