It was not the start that the Cerritos College wrestling team had anticipated when they squared off against visiting Rio Hondo College in their Southwest Conference opener at home on Wednesday night. The Falcons, ranked #4 in the state, trailed #8-ranked Rio Hondo College, 13-0 after the first three weight classifications. However, Cerritos (7-0, 1-0) won the final seven weights to come away with a 37-13 victory. The team will host the Southern California Team Duals starting at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Down 13-0, Cerritos started their comeback at 149 pounds, as sophomore Mario De La Torre (Temescal Canyon HS), the state's #1-ranked wrestler at the weight, needed just 2:32 to pin Finn Long, while a convincing 20-3 technical fall for freshman Noah Zuniga (Trabuco Hills HS) at 157 pounds drew the team to within 13-11. In his match, Zuniga opened with an aggressive approach, which netted him a three-point takedown, while two more and a four-point near-fall at the buzzer to end the first period gave him a 13-2 advantage. Not looking to get complacent, Zuniga worked his way to another takedown with less than a minute remaining in the second period and ended the match after two periods with his fifth takedown.

The Falcons took a 14-13 team score lead after 165-pound sophomore Cael Garriott (South Torrance HS) registered his 10-6 win over Joseph Estrada. Garriott got on the scoreboard near the end of the first period with a takedown, but found himself trailing, 6-4 heading into the final two minutes. Starting the third period in the down position, Garriott was able to escape within five seconds and with less than a minute remaining, was able to take down Estrada for three points and then got him on his back for a two-point near-fall as time expired.

The lead was extended after freshman Zack Harkey (Dana Hills HS) recorded his 18-1 decision at 174 pounds, which could easily have been a pin. He opened a quick 6-1 lead through the first period against Mario Mendez and came within a few seconds of registering a pin, as time ran out in the second period as he was earning a four-point near-fall. Harkey came out quickly in the third period and posted a takedown to end the match with his technical fall.

The team all but clinched the match after freshman Ben Setum (Pacifica HS) turned in the shortest match of the night. He needed just 1:08 to pin Ben Ramirez, while 197-pound Armando Sandoval (Los Alamitos HS) followed with a pin of his own, as he finished off Brandon Garduno in 4:25. Sophomore 285-pound Kobe Pablo (Cypress HS), who's ranked #1 in the state, earned a forfeit victory to close out the night.

A couple of special guests were in attendance at the match, as former Falcon head coaches Jeff Smith and Greg Gascon made an appearance. Both won 3C2A State Championships during their individual tenures as head coach, while Smith was also a former Falcon wrestling state champion.

CERRITOS 37, RIO HONDO 13

125 Pounds - Dylan Atherton (RHC) technical fall over Carlos Garcia (CERR), 18-0
133 Pounds - Jacob Benavidas (RHC) def. Evan McShane (CERR), 4-3
141 Pounds - Devin Martinez (RHC) technical fall over Raul Jimenez (CERR), 19-2
149 Pounds - Mario De La Torre (CERR) pinned Finn Long (RHC), 2:32
157 Pounds - Noah Zuniga (CERR) technical fall over Brian Dryer (RHC), 20-3
165 Pounds - Cael Garriott (CERR) def. Joseph Estrada (RHC), 10-6
174 Pounds - Zack Harkey (CERR) technical fall over Mario Mendez (RHC), 18-1
184 Pounds - Ben Setum (CERR) pinned Ben Ramirez (RHC), 1:08
197 Pounds - Armando Sandoval (CERR) pinned Brandon Garduno (RHC), 4:25
285 Pounds - Kobe Pablo (CERR) win by forfeit

Photos by Daryl Peterson