East Los Angeles College 197-pound sophomore Ricardo Cortez wrestles with Modesto's David Stewart in the Mt. SAC Duals Sept. 15. (Photo by Tadzio Garcia)
East Los Angeles College 197-pound sophomore Ricardo Cortez wrestles with Modesto's David Stewart in the Mt. SAC Duals Sept. 15. (Photo by Tadzio Garcia)

Wrestlers defeat Santa Ana College 42-15 at Mt. SAC Duals

WALNUT, Calif. — The East Los Angeles College wrestling team won one of four dual meets at the Mt. San Antonio College Duals today.

Palomar College won the duals with a 3-1 record, Modesto Junior College placed second (3-1), and the Mt. SAC Maroon Team placed third (3-1).

ELAC met Rio Hondo for fifth place and came up on the short end of a 27-24 score. The Huskies tied for sixth with Sierra College of Rocklin (1-3 records each) followed by the Mt. SAC White Team who defeated Santa Ana College for 7th place. Santa Ana (0-4) finished in 8th place with only four wrestlers.

The season is young with the Huskies who are adjusting weight classes. The Huskies faced off with three teams in the Pool A Group. ELAC lost to Modesto 49-6, defeated Sana Ana 42-15 and lost to the Mt. SAC Maroon Team 38-15.

125-pound weight sophomore Nate Martinez (South Pasadena High School) began with a loss by fall (1:11) to Modesto’s Houston Scibek who is one of the top 125-pounders in the state. He followed with a major decision loss to Santa Ana’s Samuel Galdamez-Valle, then lost by fall to Mt. SAC’s Ethan Diaz. Martinez lost by fall to Rio Hondo’s Johnny Vargas and stands at 1-4 for the season.

133-pound sophomore Martin Gevorkian (Downey HS) opened with a pin (4:18) over Modesto’s Jaime Pulido, lost by technical fall to Santa Ana’s Oliver Rivero and lost a 9-6 decision vs. Mt. SAC’s Ethan Diaz. Against Rio Hondo, Gevorkian lost a major decision to Khalil Tucker. Gevorkian is 2-3 overall to date.

141-pound freshman Erik Echeverri (Montclair HS) lost four matches by fall to Modesto’s Ivan Gomez (4:43), to Santa Ana’s Josh Fuentes (0:23), to Mt. SAC’s Jesse Garduno and to Rio Hondo. Echeverri is still looking for his first win and says he’s confident it’s around the corner.

149-pound freshman Jonathan Flores (Bell HS) lost a major decision to Modesto’s Andrew Brennan, won by forfeit vs. Santa Ana, lost by fall to Mt. SAC All-American Adam Valdez and won a 7-6 decision over Rio Hondo’s Adam Valdez. Flores is 3-2 overall.

157-pound sophomore Michael Estrada (John Glenn HS) opened with a close 7-5 decision loss to Modesto’s Travis Maynard, followed with a forfeit win vs. Santa Ana and lost a major decision to Mt. SAC’s Miguel Gallardo. Against Rio Hondo, Estrada won a major decision over Rio Hondo’s Hector Rodarte. Estrada stands 3-2 overall.

165-pound sophomore Rodrigo Magallon (Bell HS) lost a major decision to Modesto’s Kyle Brown, won by forfeit vs. Santa Ana, lost a decision to Mt. SAC All-American Matthew Mejia. Against Rio Hondo’s Stephen Encinas, Magallon led 2-1 after the first period, was tied 4-4 after two and pulled out an 8-5 decision win. Magallon is 3-2 overall.

174-pound freshman Emmanuel Zepeda (Fremont HS) lost by fall (1:49) to Modesto’s Juan Rosales, won a forfeit vs. Santa Ana and won by fall over Mt. SAC’s Colby Huynh. Against Rio Hondo, Zepeda got a major decision win over Quinton Mireles and is 4-1 overall for the Huskies.

184-pound sophomore Gabriel Rodriguez (Warren HS) lost by fall (2:49) to Modesto’s Victor Cruz, won by fall (1:39) from a cradle hold over Santa Ana’s Jimmy Cervantes and won by forfeit vs. Mt. SAC. Against Rio Hondo, Rodriguez won by forfeit and stands 4-1 to date.

197-pound sophomore Ricardo Cortez (Warren HS) lost by fall to Modesto’s David Stewart, won a forfeit vs. Santa Ana, lost by fall to Mt. SAC’s Luis Garcia. Against Rio Hondo, Cortez lost a major decision and stands 2-3 overall.

285-pound heavyweight sophomore Efren Velez (Schurr HS) lost by fall (4:26) to Modesto’s Toribio Larios, won a forfeit vs. Santa Ana and won by pin over Mt. SAC’s Cristian Ayala. Against Rio Hondo, Velez was pinned by Daniel Martinez and stands 2-3 overall.

Follow ELAC Athletics at http://athletics.elac.edu/landing/index or on Facebook at ELAC Huskies Athletics (@elachuskiesathletics).

story submitted by Tadzio Garcia