Warriors are undefeated in first four wrestling dual meets

Fallbrook High School’s wrestling team began the 2018-2019 season undefeated in the Warriors’ first four dual meets.

“We’re happy with that,” Fallbrook coach Cristian Vera said. “That’s a really good way to start. Not only did we win, but we’ve also been dominant in our first three wins.”

High school wrestling matches consist of 14 weight classes, and two types of points determine the dual meet winner and team positions in tournaments. During each match a wrestler is awarded one point for an escape, two points for a takedown, a reversal or a near fall lasting at least two seconds and three points for a near fall lasting at least five seconds. Penalty points may also be awarded if the opponent commits an infraction.

A match decided by decision is worth three team points to the winner, a major decision which means a win by at least eight points gives the team four points, a technical fall which is awarded if one wrestler achieves a 15-point advantage provides five team points and a fall, which is also known as a pin, or forfeit win adds six points to the team’s total.

A forfeit win usually occurs when a team does not provide a wrestler for a weight class rather than when a wrestler commits disqualifying activity, and a forfeit is also awarded if one wrestler is injured during the match and is unable to continue.

In addition to dual meets, the matmen also have tournaments. The Nov. 16-17 Carter Classic tournament at Carter High School in Rialto began the Warriors’ season.

“I’m a huge fan of the tournament,” Vera said. “The tournament is historically a really good tournament.”

Fallbrook junior Kevin Sanchez reached the final of the 126-pound bracket before a loss to Josh Trumbull of San Marino High School gave Sanchez second place for the weight class.

“He had an exceptionally good tournament,” Vera said.

One other Fallbrook wrestler placed in the top eight; sophomore Matthew Kendall took eighth place in the 145-pound class.

Five of Fallbrook’s wrestlers, including Sanchez and Kendall, advanced to the second day of the tournament, and all five of those won their first Nov. 17 match to finish in the Top 12 of their weight class. Although the Warriors only filled nine weight classes, they placed 16th as a team at the Carter Classic.

Fallbrook’s 2018-2019 dual meet competition began Nov. 27 with a 67-6 home victory over Del Norte High School. The Warriors filled 13 of the weight classes.

“Thirteen out of 14 isn't bad at all,” Vera said. “It’s still not the full 14.”

A wrestler can compete in the weight class immediately higher than what he scales but not in a lower weight class, so the Warriors could not fill the 170-pound division.

“We have nobody there. We don’t have any 160s that we can bump up,” Vera said.

The 2018-2019 Fallbrook team has 20 wrestlers including one girl who can compete against boys in dual meets, including in a junior varsity match, as well as at girls’ tournaments along with other tournaments.

Del Norte senior Taro Harmon pinned Mateo Gonzalez, who is Fallbrook’s only senior, to win the 160-pound match, Nov. 27. A double forfeit which does not give points to either team was the case for the 170-pound bracket. Fallbrook won the other 12 matches.

Eight Fallbrook wrestlers pinned their Del Norte opponents: freshman Ethan Ellefsen in the 113-pound match, junior Marco Alejandre in the 126-pound division, Sanchez in the 132-pound class, sophomore Uriel Juarez in the 138-pound bracket, sophomore Frank Greenwood in the 182-pound bout, junior Carlos Hernandez in the 195-pound contest, sophomore Johnny Bermudez in the 220-pound battle and junior Javier Montoya in the 285-pound competition.

Two other Fallbrook grapplers won by forfeit: freshman Alex Brown in the 106-pound division and Kendall in the 152-pound class. A 16-6 score gave freshman Ethan Aguila a major decision victory in the 145-pound matchup while freshman Chris Beltran won a 13-11 decision in the 120-pound contest.

Some of the Warriors spent Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at the Vista High School Frosh-Soph Dual meet. The Warriors tied for third in team points.

“That was an awesome tournament for everyone that went,” Vera said.

Bermudez won all nine of his matches to take the 220-pound championship, and Kendall was victorious in all nine of his 152-pound bouts to earn first place in that weight class.

Greenwood placed second in the 182-pound division. Marco Arias, the son of Fallbrook High School cross country and track and field coach Marco Arias, and Garrison Beatty both wrestled in the 98-pound class for freshmen only and shared third place in that division.

Brown and Ellefsen were Fallbrook’s two 106-pound grapplers and combined for fifth place in that weight bracket.

Two of the Warriors’ dual meets took place Dec. 6, in what was a tri-meet featuring Fallbrook, Sage Creek High School and Army-Navy Academy wrestlers. Fallbrook had 14 scheduled matches against Sage Creek and 14 scheduled contests against Army-Navy. The Warriors took a 57-18 victory over Sage Creek and a 63-15 triumph against Army-Navy.

The Dec. 7-8 Jimmy Hamada Classic tournament at La Costa Canyon High School included an eighth-place result for Sanchez in the 126-pound class, four Warriors finishing among the Top 16, and six Fallbrook grapplers advancing to the second day of the tournament.

“That was an awesome tournament,” Vera said.

Fallbrook’s toughest dual meet opponent during calendar year 2018 was Guajome Park. Greg Wagaman is currently Guajome Park’s coach but was Fallbrook High School’s head coach from 2008 to 2014, including Vera’s sophomore, junior and senior years as a Fallbrook High School student and one of the Warriors’ wrestlers.

“His team definitely made it interesting,” Vera said. “Those guys definitely battled.”

The Frogs outscored the Warriors on the mat in the Dec. 13 meet at Guajome Park but could not overcome five forfeits. Fallbrook forfeited two weight classes and began with a 30-12 lead.

Guajome Park won four of the seven contested matches, three by pin and one by a major decision, to make the final score 48-34.

“We still did very well,” Vera said.

Pins by Alejandre in the 126-pound division, Juarez in the 138-pound bracket and Kendall in the 152-pound class gave Fallbrook 18 points.

“We were able to get three pins,” Vera said. “That solidified our win.”

The Vista Frosh Bash for freshmen only was held Dec. 15 at Vista High School. Aguila won the 145-pound bracket. Fallbrook had two wrestlers in the 106-pound class, and both were given fifth place after they were unable to compete past the semifinals. Ellefsen was injured in the semifinal, and Arias had already wrestled the maximum permissible five matches in one day.

“This year we’re starting off strong,” Vera said. “It’s an awesome group of kids. They’re young; they’re talented.”

The CIF Division II meet will be held at Fallbrook High School, Feb. 9. The Warriors will host a CIF division meet for the first time since 2004.

“We’re pretty excited to host the CIF contest,” Vera said.