PC wrestlers reach finals of SoCal duals before falling to Cerritos

SAN MARCOS (10-13-2018) / UPDATED 10-14-2018 – Second-seeded Palomar advanced to the championship match of the Southern California Duals Wrestling Championships at The Dome on Saturday, defeating Rio Hondo 37-11 and Mt. SAC 23-18 before losing to defending State Duals champion and No. 1 seed Cerritos 37-7 in the finals.

The Comets had nearly upset the Falcons, who have now won three straight SoCal Duals titles, on Wednesday night in a Southwest Conference match but were unable to equal that effort on Saturday.

Raul Ortiz, at 133 pounds, and Nicholas Kimball, at 184 pounds, scored Palomar's only points against the Falcons the championship match.

Ortiz decisioned Andres Gonzales 9-5. Kimball defeated Andrew Munoz by major decision 12-3.

Cerritos will now face Northern California Duals champion Fresno City College as the Falcons attempt to win a third straight state duals title.

In their first-round victory over Rio Hondo, the Comets got pins by Mace Anderson in 2:24 at 165 and Kimball in 1:18 at 184; technical falls by Eric Reyes 17-1 at 141, Nathan Navida 16-0 at 149 and Jesse Diaz 16-0 at 157, a major decision from Arturo Baeza at 125; and a forfeit win by Cameron Cox at 174.

In its semifinal win over Mt. SAC, Palomar received a pin by Kimball in 6:47 at 184; a technical fall Cox at 174; and decisions by Ortiz at 133, Reyes at 141, Diaz at 157 and Anderson at 165.

In the third-place match, Mt. SAC turned back Rio Hondo 48-12.