Returning to wrestling after a 40-year hiatus, Imperial Valley College made the trip north to take on host Cerritos College in a Southwest Conference match Wednesday night. The Falcons went on to post a 46-4 win over the Desert Warriors and will now travel down to Palomar College next Wednesday night for another conference match next Wednesday.

The team score was just 5-4 in favor of Cerritos after the first two matches, but a trio of forfeit wins, as well as a pair of win by pin allowed the team to win convincingly.

At 125 pounds, Adrian Jimenez (Marina HS) was able to post his technical fall win by the second period, while 141-pound Imanuel Flores (Santa Fe HS) posted a pair of second period near falls to open his 15-3 lead, with neither wrestler able to score in the third period. An early 8-1 lead by 149-pound Jake Topartzer (San Juan Hills HS) was maintained heading into the third period, where he added a pair of takedowns and only surrendered four escape points in his 17-4 victory.

With both wrestlers coming out with high energy in the first period of the 165-pound match, Nathan Castellanos (Trabuco Hills HS) was able to maintain his composure against Ruggelio Martinez and turned a takedown into a pin with 39 seconds left in the first period.

Easily the most exciting match of the night came at 174 pounds where Donovan Chavez (Downey HS) trailed 6-1 heading into the third period against Jesus Pena. An early penalty point was awarded to Chavez when Pena was called for locking his hands, followed by an escape point four seconds later. He then tied the match at 6-6 on a takedown with 1:25 remaining in the third period. Pena was able to escape with 1:09 left, which was followed 10 seconds later by a takedown from Chavez for a 9-7 lead. Pena escaped with 38 seconds left, but could not get Chavez down, as he ran out the clock for his win.

The night ended with a rare 11-8 first period score at 285 pounds from Simon Flores (Paloma Valley HS) and Jaiden Lopez. Flores fell behind 8-3 before an escape, a takedown and a near fall in the final minute propelled him to that 11-8 lead. He ended the match in the second period when he got Lopez down and pinned him at 4:04 of the match.

CERRITOS 46, IMPERIAL VALLEY 4

125 Pounds - Adrian Jimenez (CERR) technical fall over Jonas Espinoza (IVC), 20-5
133 Pounds - Alexander Garcia (IVC) major decision over Isaiah Cruz (CERR), 11-2
141 Pounds - Imanuel Flores (CERR) major decision over Leonardo Montes (IVC), 15-3
149 Pounds - Jake Topartzer (CERR) major decision over Gerardo Ruiz (IVC), 17-4
157 Pounds - Marcel Blake (CERR) win by forfeit
165 Pounds - Nathan Castellanos pinned Ruggelio Martinez (IVC), 2:21
174 Pounds - Donovan Chavez (CERR) def. Jesus Pena (IVC), 9-8
184 Pounds - Sean Williams (CERR) win by forfeit
197 Pounds - Nelson Ramirez (CERR) win by forfeit
285 Pounds - Simon Flores (CERR) pinned Jaiden Lopez (IVC), 4:04

Photos by Daryl Peterson