Rick Devereux
There wasn't a big surprise when the Estancia High wrestling team
defeated visiting crosstown rival Costa Mesa, 54-12, in a Golden West
League match Wednesday.
The Eagles had a 24-6 lead before anyone set foot on the mat due
to forfeits. Estancia took forfeit wins in the 103-, 130-, 145- and
152-pound weight classes while the Mustangs won the 119 class. The
teams double forfeited -- neither squad received points -- in the
112, 135 and 140 classes.
"It's really a shame for the kids," Estancia Coach Brian Burgess
said. "We want to have the same sort of rivalry that other sports
have. I know the kids really enjoy going up against Costa Mesa."
The Mustangs program is rebuilding after Lee Romo resigned as head
coach at the start of the season last year.
"We are a new program," Coach Paul Serio said. "Of the seven guys
I brought [Wednesday against Estancia] five are first-year
wrestlers."
Six varsity matches took place along with one junior varsity
match.
Costa Mesa senior Francisco Bahia, wrestling in his first-ever
match, scored a two-point near fall in the final minute of the third
period to win the junior varsity 160-pound match, 4-2.
The Mustangs also won the varsity 160-pound match. Freshman Chris
Rodriguez pinned his opponent in the second period.
"We're trying to build a little bit and having freshmen like
Rodriguez will help," Serio said. "The three toughest kids in the
wrestling room are all freshmen. And they are great spokesmen for the
program. They go out and tell their friends to come out and they tell
eighth-graders to come out when they're freshmen. If we get 10 new
guys next year and 10 guys the year after that, by the time this
group of freshmen are seniors, we should have a pretty solid
program."
Estancia won the remaining five matches, all by pins.
Danny Alderete (125) pinned his opponent with time winding down in
the second period.
Alex Sotomayer (171) dissected his opponent, taking a 14-3 lead,
before finding an opening and getting a pin in the third period.
"That's the way Alex wrestles," Burgess said. "He is methodical.
He tries to get what is available to him. I'm actually very proud of
him because he wrestled up a weight class (he usually wrestles at
160), so he was going up against a bigger guy."
Efran Alvarez (189) outscored his opponent, 15-5, but wrapped his
opponent in a headlock and got the pin with 15 seconds left in the
third period.
Chris Guzman (215) scored the fastest decision of the day when he
