(Lemoore, CA) For the third year in a row the Mt. SAC Wrestling team took third place in the West Hills Tournament at West Hills College.
The top three teams were the same as last year: Fresno CC, 197; Cerritos 105 and Mt. SAC, 103.5. Eighteen colleges with 227 wrestlers competed in the 10 weight classes.
Eight Mounties placed in the tournament, including a second place finish by Cristian Ayala in the 285 lbs. weight class.
Ayala was the highest finisher among the 20 Mounties wrestlers entered in the tournament. In the championship match, Ayala lost in a close 4-3 decision. In the tournament he was 4-1, with two pins.
"I feel that we are going in the right direction," Mt. SAC Wrestling coach David Rivera said. "There's a lot of season left to correct mistakes. I have been pleased with the efforts I have seen on the mat."
Two Mountie wrestlers took third place – Adam Valdez (149 lbs.) and David Chavarria (197 lbs.). Chavarria (4-1), lost in the semifinals, but improved on his fifth-place finish from the 2017 tournament with a fall, two major decisions and consolation championshp decision.
Valdez, who lost in the quarterfinals, advanced all the way back to the third-place match and defeated his opponent, 8-3. Valdez pinned his opponent from Modesto College to get into the third-place match.
In the 133 lbs. weight class, teammates Jessie Martinez and Jesus Garduno faced off in the consolation champiomship final with Martinez winning with a 5-0 decision. Garduno, who had three falls to advance to the semifinals, lost a close 7-4 decision, went 4-2 in the tournament.
Matthew Mejia (165 lbs.) won his first match by fall (3:47), before eventually losing in the semifinals.
Mt. SAC wrestlers who placed in the top six:
133 Lbs.– 4th - Martinez (5-2), 5th – Garduno (4-2)
141 Lbs. – 5th – Aaron Diaz (4-1)
149 Lbs. – 3rd – Valdez (5-1)
157 Lbs. – 6th – Miguel Gallardo (4-3)
165 Lbs – 4th – Mejia (3-2)
197 Lbs. – 3rd – Chavarria (4-1)
285 Lbs. – 2nd – Ayala (4-1)
Mt. SAC will compete in the Santa Ana College Wrestling Tournament next Saturday, September 29th.
Follow Mt. SAC Wrestling on twitter @MtSACWrestling
Follow Mt. SAC Athletics on twitter @MtSAC_athletics or Facebook @Mountie.Athletics
For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.