Cerritos wins second straight SoCal Team Dual Championship

SAN MARCOS - For the second season in a row, the Cerritos College wrestling team defeated Mt. San Antonio College in the finals of the Southern California Team Dual Championships. On Saturday at Palomar College, the defending CCCAA Team Dual state champion Falcons posted a 20-15 win over the Mounties. In 2016, Cerritos defeated Mt. SAC, 21-15 in the SoCal finals. Trailing, 15-14 with two weight classifications remaining, the Falcons received a win at 285 pounds from an unlikely source. Sophomore David Van Weems, the defending CCCAA State Champion at 197 pounds, moved up to heavyweight and recorded a 7-4 win over Gabriel Herrera to clinch the championship for the Falcons.

Cerritos will host Fresno City College, the Northern California champion, on a date in November to be determined. Last year, the Falcons defeated the Rams, 23-16 in the CCCAA State Dual Team Championship.

Below is a breakdown of the match scores and the championship match:

CCCAA 2017 SO CAL REGIONAL DUALS WRESTLING TOURNAMENT
OCT. 14, 2017 – Palomar College, San Marcos, CA

FIRST ROUND

MATCH 1 – Santa Ana (8) vs. Mt. SAC (1)
Mt. SAC 47, Santa Ana 0

MATCH 2 – West Hills (5) vs. Rio Hondo (4)
Rio Hondo 39, West Hills 9

MATCH 3 – Palomar (6) vs. Bakersfield (3)
Palomar 30, Bakersfield 17

MATCH 4 – Moorpark (4) vs. Cerritos (2)
Cerritos 39, Moorpark 12

CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINAL – Rio Hondo (4) vs. Mt. SAC (1)
Mt. SAC 40, Rio Hondo 6

125-John Whisner (MTS) def. Adrian Guevara (RH) by fall; 133 – Julian Melecio (MTS) win by forfeit; 141 – Andrew Saucedo (MTS) def. Eric Salas (RH) by fall; 149 – Joseph Dominguez (MTS) def. Khalil Howard (RH) by fall; 157 – James Schmidt (RH) def. Joseph Valdez (MTS) by dec. 6-2; 165 – Daylon Walker (MTS) def. Mario Martinez (RH) by dec. 12-7; 174- Hector Vargas (MTS) def. Ronny Peraza (RH) by dec. 16-6; 184 – Luis Melecio (MTS) win by forfeit; 197 – David Chavarria (MTS) def. Bobby Ramirez (RH) by dec. 3-2; 285 – Gabe Herrera (MTS) def. Marco Valdivia (RH) by dec. 4-3.  

CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINAL – Palomar (6) vs. Cerritos (2)
Cerritos 41, Palomar 11

125 – Issac Guerrero (P) def. Eric Gonzalez (CR) by maj. dec., 19-1; 133 – Josh Brown (CR) win by forfeit; 141 – Nick Camacho (CR) def. Zack Moistner (P) by dec. 8-6 (OT); 149 – Devin Daugherty (CR) def. Nathan Navida (P) by dec., 7-3; 157 – Aaron Negrete (CR) def. Arturo Osorio (P) by maj. dec., 22-7; 165 – Kennith Kirk (CR) def. David Moreno (P) by fall; 174 – John Robles (CR) win by forfeit; 184 – Angel Verduzco (CR) def. Merceles Velazquez (P) by fall; 197 – David Van Weems (CR) def. Chris Franklin (P) by fall; 285 – Chance Eskam (P) win by forfeit.

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Cerritos 20, Mt. SAC 15

125 – John Martinez (MTS) def. Messiah Owens (CR) by dec., 15-8; 133 – Josh Brown (CR) def. Julian Melecio (MTS) by maj. dec., 19-5; 141 – Adam Valdez (MTS) def. Nick Camacho (CR) by dec., 4-2; 149 – Joseph Dominguez (MTS) def. Devin Daugherty (CR) by fall; 157 – Aaron Negrette (CR) def. Hector Mora (MTS) by maj. Dec., 10-0; 165 – Blake Vasquez (CR) def. Matthew Mejia (MTS) by dec., 10-5; 174 – Hector Vargas (MTS) def. Zack Gonzalez (CR) by dec. 3-2; 184 – Angel Verduzco (CR) def. Luis Melecio (MTS) by dec., 6-2; 197 – Ethan Bakker (CR) def. David Chavarria (MTS) by dec., 3-0; 285 - David Van Weems (CR) def. Gabe Herrera (MTS) by dec., 7-4.     

CONSOLATION QUARTERFINAL – Santa Ana (8) vs. West Hills (5)
Santa Ana 27, West Hills 24

CONSOLATION QUARTERFINAL – Moorpark (7) vs. Bakersfield (3)
Bakersfield 24, Moorpark 18

CONSOLATION SEMIFINAL – Santa Ana (8) vs. Palomar (6)
Palomar 24, Santa Ana 19

CONSOLATION SEMIFINAL – Rio Hondo (4) vs. Bakersfield (3)
Rio Hondo 24, Bakersfield 19

CONSOLATION FINAL (3rd Place) – Palomar (6) vs. Rio Hondo (4)
Rio Hondo 32, Palomar 18

FIFTH PLACE EXHIBITION – Santa Ana (8) vs. Bakersfield (3)
Santa Ana 24, Bakersfield 12

*****

REGIONAL CHAMPION – Cerritos (3-0)
REGIONAL RUNNER-UP – Mt. San Antonio (2-1)
REGIONAL THIRD-PLACE – Rio Hondo (3-1)
REGIONAL FOURTH-PLACE – Palomar (2-2)
REGIONAL FIFTH PLACE – Santa Ana (2-2)