165-pound sophomore Rodrigo Magallon is 3-3 overall after the East Los Angeles College wrestlers lost 27-24 to Lassen College in the West Hills Duals, Sept. 21. (Photo by Tadzio Garcia)
165-pound sophomore Rodrigo Magallon is 3-3 overall after the East Los Angeles College wrestlers lost 27-24 to Lassen College in the West Hills Duals, Sept. 21. (Photo by Tadzio Garcia)
Posted: Sep 21, 2018

East Los Angeles College wrestlers lose 27-24 to Lassen College

LEMOORE, Calif. — The East Los Angeles College wrestlers lost a 27-24 match to Lassen College of Susanville in the West Hills Duals tonight. One Husky remains undefeated, another improves to 5-1.

125-pound weight class sophomore Martin Gevorkian (Downey High School) moved down to this division after compiling a 2-3 record as a 133-pounder. He defeated freshman Javian Briggs 8-4 after leading 4-1 after the first period and 6-3 after two. Gevorkian pulls even at 3-3 overall. ELAC led 3-0 over Lassen.

133-pound freshman Erik Echeverri (Montclair HS) moved down one weight class and earned his first victory of the season, a hard-fought decision win over Jacob Laughlin, a transfer from Indiana. “I felt stronger and (adjusted) to move quicker for the win,” said Echeverri. ELAC led 6-0.

141-pound freshman Jonathan Flores (Bell HS) also moved down a weight class but lost by fall to Logan Garcia, a transfer from Hawaii. Flores is 3-3 overall. The team score was tied 6-6.

149-pound sophomore Michael Estrada (John Glenn HS), who moved down a weight class, won by fall over Dayton Esposito, a transfer from Hawaii. Estrada raised his record to 4-2 for ELAC. The Huskies led 12-6.

157-pound sophomore Ahmad Shalabi (Mendez HS) won by forfeit and remains undefeated at 2-0 overall. ELAC led 18-6.

165-pound sophomore Rodrigo Magallon (Bell HS) lost a close decision to Kawena Esperas, a transfer from Hawaii. Magallon dropped to 3-3 this season. ELAC led 18-9.

174-pound freshman Emmanuel Zepeda (Fremont HS) won by forfeit and improves to 5-1 overall. ELAC led 24-9 but Lassen’s dominance in the heavier weights proved the difference in the game.

184-pound sophomore Gabriel Rodriguez (Warren HS), a state finalist during his freshman year, lost by fall to All-American Tevin Bailey, a transfer from Hawaii who placed third in this weight class in last year’s state finals. Rodriguez fell to 4-2 overall. ELAC led 24-15.

197-pound sophomore Ricardo Cortez (Warren HS) lost by fall to Joe Bynum, a transfer from Washington. Cortez falls to 2-4 for the season. ELAC led 24-21.

285-pound heavyweight class sophomore Efren Velez (Schurr HS) lost by fall to All-American Cole Mair, a transfer from Utah who placed third in this weight class at state last year. Velez falls to 2-4 for the season. After three straight pins, Lassen erased a 24-9 deficit and won 27-24.

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

story submitted by Tadzio Garcia