Mt. SAC Goes Back-to-Back, Defeats FCC 29-17 in 2024 Dual State Championship

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WALNUT, Calif. - The Mt. San Antonio College Men's Wrestling team clinched its second consecutive Dual State Championship with a 29-17 win over the Fresno City Rams on Sunday afternoon. It marks the program's fifth dual state championship and the first back-to-back championship in program history. 

Mt. SAC Head Coach David Rivera has been at the helm for all of the titles during his 14 year tenure. When asked about how it feels to become one of the most dominant programs in the state he stayed humble and focused on getting the most out of his team. "This is nice but we still have a lot of room to improve as a team," Rivera said. "We're always trying to level up and see how we can improve."

125lbs: FCC -  Zane Cerda (FR) vs Mt.SAC -  Luis Solis (FR) 

In the first match of the afternoon, Zane Cerda had a solid performance for the FCC Rams as he shut out his opponent, Luis Solis. Cerda opened with a takedown at the 1:30 mark in the first period. In the second, he chose to start down and earned a point escape right away. He then followed with another takedown to take a 7-0 lead. 

Solis decided to go neutral in the final period but Cerda continued to dominate, getting a takedown with about 50 seconds remaining. The riding time brought the score to 12-0 at the whistle, giving Fresno City a 4-0 lead to start the dual.

133lbs: FCC -  Eddie Munoz (FR) vs Mt. SAC - Jason Saenz (FR)

After a long stalemate, Jason Saenz collected the first three points with a takedown two minutes into the first. It was all Saenz from that point as the standout 133 pounder finished the match with a fall at the 29 second mark in the second, giving Mt. SAC a 6-4 team lead. 

141lbs: FCC - Abraham Cera (SO) vs Mt. SAC - Aldo Quintero (FR) 

No. 4 ranked Abraham Cera and Aldo Quintero, the No. 2 ranked wrestler in the 149lb division,  put on a show in the third match of the day. 

Following a scoreless first period, Cera chose to start down and earned his point with an escape at the 1:43 mark. But Quintero made the first big move, scoring on a takedown with just seven seconds left in the period.

In the second, Quintero got one more point with his own escape, taking a 4-1 lead. With a three point lead, Quintero looked like he would be able to hold off his FCC counterpart in the third but Cera responded with an aggressive shot and a takedown at the 30 second mark to send it to overtime. 

The intensity was at its peak as the two wrestlers delivered some extra pushing after the whistle blew, giving the match even more energy. 

With just 56 seconds left on the clock, Quintero took the match and gave the Mounties the momentum with a takedown to record an 8-5 win. With the win, Mt. SAC's lead grew to 9-4. 

149lbs: FCC - James Wright (FR) vs Mt. SAC - Brian Greiger (SO)

In the 149lb match, James Wright fought off a tough wrestler in Brian Greiger who came down from 157lbs. 

Wright began the scoring with a takedown at the 1:10 mark. He then created some separation with a reversal and a four point near fall, pushing his lead to 9-0. 

Greiger chose neutral to start the third and got on the scoreboard with a takedown just over a minute left in the third. After Wright's escape at the end, the Fresno City 149 pounder won 10-3, cutting the lead to 9-7.

157lbs: Noah Reynolds (FR) vs No. 1 Maxximus Martinez (FR)

Maxximus Martinez showed why he's been ranked No. 1 throughout the season as he scored within the first 15 seconds with a takedown. 

Martinez began letting Noah Reynolds go to reset for takedowns halfway through the period. 

Following a flurry of takedowns, escapes and a near fall, Martinez finished the match with a fall at 1:27 in the second, giving the Mounties six more points for a 15-7 lead. 

165lbs: No. 2 at 174 Max McWilliams (FR) vs No. 1 Jack Estevez (FR) 

In the 165lbs bout, No. 1 ranked Jack Estevez took on No. Max McWilliams in a critical matchup.

Estevez shot first and picked up three points at the 1:18 mark. McWilliams earned a point with an escape and cut the lead to 3-2 with another to start the second.  But Estevez responded with his second takedown, taking a 6-2 lead. 

That trend would stay the same until McWilliams was on top to start the third and received a couple points from stalling warnings. Ultimately, Estevez was able to pull out a 9-5 win, giving Mt. SAC an 18-7 lead. 

174lbs: No. 1 Jake Prudek (SO) vs Jacob Hand (SO)

Jake Prudek gave the Rams life with a 10-1 win in the 174lbs match. The sophomore scored seven points within a 10 second span with a takedown and a near fall to start the scoring in the first period. He earned two more on a reversal at the 45 second mark, going up 9-0. Hand picked up a point on an escape at the 45 second mark but Prudek countered that with riding time to win 10-1.

Fresno City closed the gap, bringing the score to 18-11 with three matches left to go. 

184lbs: FCC - Juan Luquin (SO) vs Mt. SAC - Roman Loya (FR)

The start of the match between FCC's Juan Luquin and Mt. SAC's Roman Loya was highly contested, as the wrestlers struggled until Loya came up on top after a minute of action.

Loya worked hard for a four point near fall with just 20 seconds left in the first period and controlled the match from the top position to earn a 7-0 lead after two periods. He chose to stay on top for the third and it paid off as he finished with a fall at the 54 second mark. The win secured the championship for Mt. SAC, pushing their lead to 24-11.

197lbs: FCC - Matthew Bolanos (SO) vs Mt. SAC - Mo Talebi

Mo Talebi was the aggressor and quickly opened the bout with a takedown and a near fall to go up 7-0. He followed with another 2 point near fall before Matthew Bolanos got on the board to make it 9-1. 

Taleni got back on top with a takedown around the 1 minute mark before letting his opponent up inorder to pursue the tech fall, which he got with 30 seconds left.

285lbs: FCC - Joe Alaniz (SO) vs Mt. SAC Jeremiah Strauss (FR)

In the final match of the day, FCC's Joe Alaniz ended the match in just 43 seconds with an impressive performance. The sophomore standout closed the dual with a fall, making the final score 29-17. 

Fresno finished runner up for the second straight year under Head Coach Paul Keesaw. The Rams won their last championship in 2022 and hope to bounce back for another shot at it next season.

The Mounties will enjoy this championship but will also have to prepare for the 2024 Individual State Championships at Lemoore College from December 13-14th. 

(Cammie Lewis, CCCSIA)