Palomar will host last year's State Duals champion Cerritos

SAN MARCOS (10-10-2018) – Palomar's wrestlers will open their home schedule tonight on Wednesday, Oct. 10 at The Dome with a dual match that is as important as any on the California Community College level so far in the early season.

It will be the Southern California Wrestling Alliance Southwest Conference opener for both teams.

On Saturday, the Comets will host the Southern California Duals at The Dome, beginning at 9 a.m., with the tournament winner moving on to face the winner of the Northern California Duals for the State Duals championship.

The Comets, who placed fourth in the CCCAA State Tournament a year ago, will host Cerritos, the defending state dual champion, defeating Fresno City College 23-16 in the championship match, and was runner-up in last year's state tournament to Fresno.

Cerritos won the Bakersfield Duals already this season, while Palomar won the Mt. SAC Duals, defeating Modesto 26-20 in the finals.

Raul Ortiz (4-0) and Mace Anderson (4-0) both were unbeaten for coach Brody Barrios' Comets in the Mt. SAC Duals.

The Comets and Falcons both were entered entered in the 24-team Santa Ana Tournament two weeks ago, when Fresno, Cerritos, Sac City and Palomar finished 1-2-3-4. The Comets finished a half-point ahead of fifth-place finisher Mt. SAC, the team Palomar will host in its second Southwest Conference match on Oct. 24.

The Mounties finished fifth, one place behind the Comets, in last year's state tournament.

Cerritos' top weight-class finishers at Santa Ana were Roland Dominguez (first at 125 pounds), Josh Brown (first at 141),  Larry Rodriguez (third at 157), Zack Gonzalez (third at 174), Josh Mendoza (fourth at 125), Jose Espinoza (fourth at 133) and Jared Nunez (fourth at 184).

Palomar's top weight-class finishers were Ortiz (second at 133 pounds), Nick Kimball (second at 184), Erick Marquez (fourth at 157) and Anderson (fourth at 165).