Downey wrestlers lose close contest

DOWNEY - The Downey High School wrestling team currently has a dual meet record of 13-2 and league record of 2-1 after defeating cross-town rival Warren at Downey on Jan. 10, 37-18.The Vikings then defeated Gahr at Gahr on Jan.15, 61-10, and fell to Paramount at Paramount last Thursday, 34-22. The Vikings hosted Dominguez yesterday (score unavailable at press time). The Vikings will compete in San Gabriel Valley League Finals on Saturday, February 2nd, at Warren. The Downey-Paramount match was tightly contested. The dual meet began at 132 pounds when Paramount wrestler Brandon Vista scored a pin against Downey's Eli Aparicio. Paramount took the early 6-0 lead. Downey's Dylan Moreno decisioned his Paramount opponent 7-1 at 138 pounds and Downey cut Paramount's lead to 6-3. Downey's Antonio Santana lost a 6-2 decision to Jose Estrada at 145 pounds and Paramount took the lead back at 9-3. Downey captain Juan Soto recorded the only Viking pin of the evening when he pinned his Paramount opponent at the 4:35 mark and Downey had tied Paramount 9-9. Downey's Jacob Beltran lost a close 3-2 decision to Alfonso Robles at 160 pounds and Downey's Steven Chavez won a 2-0 decision at 171. The score after six matches was tied at 12. Downey's Jorge Guerrero lost to Paramount's Kevin Uriarte 15-2 at 182 pounds and Viking 195 pounder Ben Cuellar was pinned by Paramount's Travion Mathews at the 4:52 mark. Paramount had opened up a ten-point lead, 22-12. Downey standout and captain Anthony Florido was pinned by Noe Sandoval at the 5:15 mark at 220 pounds and Viking heavyweight Angel Baez lost a hard-fought 5-0 decision to Chris Borrayo at 285 pounds. Paramount had opened up a 31-12 lead and things didn't look good for the Vikings with only four matches left to wrestle. The Downey lower weights provided a spark. Viking 106-pounder Mark Lopez defeated his Paramount opponent 9-2 and 113-pounder Johnny Robles decisioned his opponent 9-0. The score now stood at 31-19 Paramount, with only two matches left to wrestle. The Vikings needed two pins in the last two matches to pull off a tie. Downey 120-pounder Ronald Casasola lost a tough 5-4 decision to Steven DeLeon and with that win, Paramount clinched the dual meet victory. The score stood at 34-19 and a pin could not make up the difference. Downey captain Daniel Martinez won his match 4-0 at 126 pounds and closed the final score to 34-22, Paramount. Although Paramount won this dual meet by twelve points, I am almost certain the outcome will be different if the two teams wrestle again. I am looking forward to a rematch of these two teams in the C.I.F. Dual Meet Championships and perhaps, in the Final. The wrestling is simply that competitive and equally as entertaining to watch.

********** Published: January 24, 2013 - Volume 11 - Issue 41