Warriors competitive in first two Valley League wrestling duals

Although Fallbrook High School's wrestling team lost both matches Jan. 10 at a tri-dual meet at Escondido High School, the Warriors were more successful against the two previous Valley League champions than they have been in the past.

"It was a very respectable showing," said Fallbrook coach Cristian Vera.

"We were competitive in both duals," Vera said. "Unfortunately we lost in both."

Fallbrook wrestled what was scheduled to be a full slate of matches against both Ramona and Escondido. The Warriors do not have a 170-pound wrestler and senior Mateo Gonzalez is Fallbrook's only 160-pound wrestler who can be brought up to the next weight class, so Fallbrook forfeited the 160-pound class against Ramona and the 170-pound bout against Escondido.

The 2018 league competition against Escondido was a 62-9 Cougars victory. Six of Fallbrook's points were scored when current sophomore Matthew Kendall pinned his 138-pound opponent, and 2018 senior Dylan Livingston won by decision in the 145-pound bout.

"Escondido almost shut us out last year," Vera said. "This year we were able to stay significantly more competitive."

The Cougars obtained a 48-30 victory against Fallbrook in this year's meet.

"We were back and forth," Vera said. "It just came down to the wire."

Escondido won eight matches, not including the forfeit. All five of Fallbrook's winners pinned their Escondido counterparts: junior Kevin Sanchez in the 126-pound bracket, Kendall in the 145-pound contest, freshman Ethan Aguila in the 152-pound division, sophomore Frank Greenwood in the 182-pound competition, and sophomore Johnny Bermudez in the 220-pound class.

Ramona defeated Fallbrook by a 42-30 score last year with the Bulldogs winning seven of the matches, the Warriors taking five bouts, and Fallbrook forfeiting two weight classes. This year Ramona took a 43-30 victory against Fallbrook.

"It was down to the wire," Vera said. "One match would have made a difference."

Ramona won the Valley League wrestling championship in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Last year the Bulldogs finished second to Escondido in the league standings, but in the dual meet CIF championship competition the Bulldogs won the Division IV title.

All five of Fallbrook's wins in the 2019 match against Ramona were by pin. Sanchez defeated his 126-pound opponent; Uriel Juarez won the 132-pound class; Kendall was the 145-pound winner; Carlos Hernandez prevailed in the 195-pound competition and Javier Montoya earned Fallbrook six points in the 285-pound bout.

"I'm very proud of the boys," Vera said.

Gonzalez is Fallbrook's only senior this season. "If this year we're doing that well it bodes very well for next season," Vera said.