Seven Fallbrook wrestlers earn all-league honors

Seven members of Fallbrook High School’s wrestling team were given all-league recognition.

The Valley League first team included sophomore Chris Beltran, senior Kevin Sanchez, junior Matthew Kendall, sophomore Ethan Aguila and senior Carlos Hernandez. The league’s coaches made sophomore Marco Arias Jr. and senior Javier Montoya second-team selections.

“We’re pleased with the overall performance and the overall record of our guys,” Fallbrook coach Cristian Vera said.

All five of Fallbrook’s first-team wrestlers were undefeated in their five league matches. A wrestler may compete in the weight class immediately above what he scales although he cannot compete in a lower weight division; Beltran competed both in the 120-pound bracket and the 126-pound class during league competition and pinned all five of his opponents. Sanchez had five victories by fall in 132-pound matches. Kendall was Fallbrook’s 145-pound wrestler. Aguila was the Fallbrook representative in the 152-pound bracket. Hernandez pinned four opponents and won one match by forfeit in the 195-pound division.

“All five of those guys performed tremendously,” Vera said.

Arias represented Fallbrook in the 120-pound class. Montoya was the Warriors’ heavyweight wrestler.

“They both wrestled very admirably,” Vera said.

Montoya was undefeated until facing Valley Center heavyweight Cameron Fuller in the league finale. Fuller pinned Montoya, and Fuller was the first-team wrestler for the weight class.

“I felt the decision was fair,” Vera said. “It doesn’t take away anything from Javier Montoya.”

The Warriors won all five of their league matches to give Fallbrook a wrestling league championship for the first time in school history.

“I’m happy to be their coach, and I’m happy with the direction that our program is headed,” Vera said.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at [email protected].