10:00pm | Despite splitting 14 matches, the Millikan wrestling team defeated Poly, 42-31, thanks to seven pin-fall victories for the Rams. The victory clinches Millikan’s first Moore League title since 2005 and officially ends the four-year reign of Lakewood High School.
RESULTS
103: Alex Oul (P) def. Kevin Lopez (M) by pin fall.
112: Ben Bermudez (M) def Jimmy Sammon (P) by pin fall.
119: Rickie Touch (P) def James Potter (M), 7-4.
125: Sergio Preciado (P) def James Antony (M) by pin fall.
130: Richie Touch (P) def. Orlando Jessie (M), 5-3, in OT.
135: Jake Wallace (M) def.. Alfredo Alcala (P) by pin fall.
140: Julian Ganderilla (M) def. Michael Middlebrooks (P) by pin fall.
145: Jesus Preciado (P) def. Jaime Reyes (M) by pin fall.
152: Nick Pena (M) def. Michael Williams (P) by pin fall.
160: Nick Arroyo (M) def. Robert Maldonado (P) by pin fall.
171: Oscar Jessie (M) def. David Cropp (P) by pin fall.
189: Malachi Whalen (P) def. Zack Woodruff (M), 8-7.
215: Sam Taylor (M) def. Jose Contreras (P) by pin fall.
285: Luamata Tagaloa (P) def. Calvin Gonzalez (M) by pin fall
The Jackrabbits have made amazing strides in coach Bart Roper’s second year at the helm of the Poly program.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the way my kids left it all out on the mat,” Roper said. “But I can’t take anything away from (Coach) Marshall Thompson, because he’s got a great team over there and they earned the Moore League title.”
The Preciado and Touch brothers have come up huge this week for Poly and the two sets of brothers went 4-0 again on Thursday. Jesus Preciado (14-0), along with Warren’s 103-pound Damien Gomez (39-0) remain the lone area wrestlers without a loss.
“I am really proud of my teammates for having heart and fighting until the end,” Jesus Preciado said. “We have made incredible progress this year and we’ll try and continue to get better for league finals.”
The Rams got its stiffest test to date on Thursday, but did what champions do by persevering through adversity.
“It was much closer than we expected and all the credit for that goes to how hard Poly came out and battled us tonight,” Millikan captain Nick Pena said. “I am also very proud of all the guys on my team that were there and competed, because it truly was a family out there counting on each other. We are excited to move forward as a team with what we had out on the mat tonight.”
Pena is 35-2 with 31 pins this season and is just four pins shy of the Millikan High career record of 96.
In other Moore League action:
Lakewood finished second this year with a convincing 52-16 victory over Wilson on Thursday evening. Despite having their ML dominance reversed this season, the Lancers battled with a very young and inexperienced roster and were well-coached.
Winners for the Lancers included Anthony Carmona (112), Charlie Brady (119), Ryan Bautista (125), Cody Gurule (130), Kimo Napohaku (135), Nathan Batres (140), Evan Ritchie (152), Andrew Becaira (160) and heavyweight Alex Barillas.
Wilson’s Miguel Peralta (171) finished his senior season without a loss in league action and is the favorite to win next Saturday’s Moore League Invitational at Wilson.
So, after an entertaining season, the final Moore League standings for 2009-10 go Millikan, Lakewood, Poly, Wilson. Come back to LBPostSports for more wrestling coverage next week!