ELAC wrestlers get revenge against Rio Hondo 28-25
MONTEREY PARK, Calif. — East Los Angeles College wrestled to a 28-25 win over Rio Hondo according to the CCCAA website getting revenge for a 27-23 loss to the Roadrunners on Sept. 15th.
The Huskies rallied from a 16-0 deficit to tie the team score 16-16. The dual meet came down to the final match of the night, an appropriate finish for these longtime rivals.
ELAC was up 28-22 entering the heavyweight division and Rio Hondo had an opportunity to end the night with a tie but only with a pin. The Roadrunners fell short with a win by decision and the Huskies won the non-conference match by three points.
125-pound weight sophomore Nate Martinez (South Pasadena High School) lost by a fall in the first period to Rio Hondo freshman Johnny Vargas (Montclair HS). The two wrestlers met earlier in the season with the same results. Rio Hondo led 6-0.
133-pound sophomore Martin Gevorkian (Downey HS) lost for the second time this season to freshman Khalil Tucker (Montclair HS), this time by a major decision. Rio Hondo led 11-0.
141-pound freshman Jonathan Flores (Bell HS) lost a major decision to freshman Rudy Bojorquez. ELAC was down 16-0.
149-pound sophomore Michael Estrada (John Glenn HS) stirred up the crowd with a win by fall in the first period against Rio Hondo freshman Marco De La Torre Campos (Montclair HS). ELAC trimmed Rio Hondo’s lead to 16-6.
157-pound sophomore Ahmad Shalabi (Marquez HS) won by fall over Rio Hondo freshman Quinton Mireles (Gahr HS) in the third period. It is Shalabi’s third pin of the season. With the crowd’s raucous approval, ELAC pulled to within four points, down 16-12.
165-pound sophomore Rodrigo Magallon (Bell HS) met Rio Hondo freshman Stephen Encinas (Santa Fe HS) who he had defeated by an 8-5 decision last month. Magallon won this time with a 10-2 major decision. He led 2-0 after the first period, 3-1 after the second then muscled to a third period outburst outscoring Encinas 7-1. ELAC tied the team score at 16-16.
174-pound freshman Emmanuel Zepeda (Fremont HS) won by default over sophomore Chris Montoya (Whittier HS). ELAC led 22-16.
184-pound sophomore Gabriel Rodriguez (Warren HS) pinned Rio Hondo sophomore Daniel Park (Montclair HS) and ELAC’s lead was 28-16.
197-pound sophomore Ricky Cortez (Warren HS) lost by fall to Rio Hondo freshman Andy Voong (Arroyo HS) to set up the final exciting match of the night. ELAC was in front 28-22.
285-pound heavyweight sophomore Efren Velez (Schurr HS) met Rio Hondo freshman Ruben Martinez (Los Alamitos HS) with the crowds of both teams boisterous. Martinez had pinned Velez earlier in the season. At the final buzzer Martinez pulled out a 7-2 decision win and the Huskies won 28-25.
UP NEXT
The Huskies wrestle in the South Duals at Palomar College, Saturday Oct. 13 beginning at 10 a.m.
Follow ELAC Athletics at http://athletics.elac.edu/landing/index or on Facebook at ELAC Huskies Athletics (@elachuskiesathletics).
story submitted by Tadzio Garcia