PC in 3rd, 0.5 points out of 2nd, after Day 1 of state wrestling

NORWALK (12-07-2018) – With Raul Ortiz, Eric Marquez, Eric Reyes, Mace Anderson and Cameron Cox all in the semifinals, Palomar sits in third place, 0.5 points out of second, after the first day of the California Community College Athletic Association State Wrestling Championships Friday at Cerritos College.

Northern California champion Fresno City College is in first place after Friday's first day with 106.0 points, followed by Sacramento City College in second place with 63.5 points and Coach Brody Barrios' Southern California champion Comets in third place with 63.0 points.

Mt. SAC is in fourth place with 51.5 points, followed in the top 10 teams by fifth-place Cerritos (51.0), sixth-place Bakersfield (41.0), seventh-place Santa Ana (32.0), eighth-place Lassen (30.0), ninth-place Santa Rosa (28.5) and 10th-place Skyline (25.0).

Trailing among the top 20 teams in 11th through 20th place are Modesto (24.5 points), Chabot (14.5), West Hills-Lemoore 13.5, Cuesta 12.5, Rio Hondo 12.0, Sierra (12.0) Shasta (11.0, Moorpark (11.0, San Joaquin Delta (9.5) and East Los Angeles (9.0 points).

Ortiz, a 9-1 major decision winner over Cerritos' Jose Espinoza in the quarterfinals, will wrestle Palomar teammate Eric Marquez, an 11-3 major decision winner Ivan Gomez of Modesto, in one of the semifinal matches at 133 pounds.

Reyes, an 8-6 overtime winner over Bakersfield's Zaiah Ozuna in his quarterfinal match, will face Luis Ramos of Fresno City College in one of the semifinal bouts at 141 pounds.

Anderson, who pinned Kiwena Esperza from Lassen in 4:56 in their quarterfinals match at 165 pounds, will wrestle Abel Martinez from Sacramento City College in one of the semifinal matches.

And Cameron Cox, who pinned Isaac Bertalotto from Sacramento City College in 2:28 in their 174-pound quarterfinal bouts, will match up against Fresno City College's Abner Romero in the semifinals.

Two of Palomar's top wrestlers were upset on Friday. Nick Kimball, the No. Southern California seed at 184 pounds, was pinned by Steve Abbott from Sacramento City College, the No. 4 seed out of Northern Califonia. And Isaac Guerrero, the No. 2 Southern California seed, was upset by Trevor Began from Santa Rosa Junior College 10-8.

Saturday's program will begin at 10 a.m. with the semifinals, consolation and medal rounds, with the championship matches slated for 7 p.m.