Bulldog wrestlers defeat top 10 team Vista Panthers
By Bill Tamburrino
Coach Steve Koch and his wrestlers continue to be bad hosts. They hosted wrestling power Vista High School and for the second week in a row defeated a top 10 team in a rout as they beat the Panthers 42-27 before a huge crowd in the Dawg House.
Logan White got the Dawgs going by pinning Alberto Abzun in 4:57 in the 115 pound bout. It was White’s first pin in a varsity match.
Vista came back with a pin of its own in the 120 pound bout as Jake Orozco beat Vince Adair by fall to tie the score at six.
Martin Dowers then won an exciting decision as he came from behind in the third period to beat Trent Wernli (126) 8-7. Dowers had to fight off Wernli in the final seconds to preserve the victory. Dowers gave the Dawgs a lead that they would not relinquish.
Kevin Conroy won a masterful 5-0 decision over Justin Villalobos in the 132 bout. Conroy had a 2-0 lead after two periods but scored on an escape and a takedown to ensure the win in the final seconds.
Arturo Osario (138) lost a tough bout to Josh Lawson. The two were tied at four going into the third period. After five bouts Ramona led Vista 12-9.
Jake Ohnysty (145) and Cole Wethey hooked up in a close bout. Ohnysty led 2-1 after one period and 4-1 going into the final period when he came up with five points to pull ahead and win a 9-2 decision.
With the Dawgs leading 15-9, Isaiah Ilich gave the Dawgs momentum by registering a pin in 3:55 over Nick Andrade after taking an 8-0 lead into the second period. The Dawgs were off and running with a 21-9 lead.
Alex Gomez (160) added to that lead with the biggest come from behind win of the night. Gomez trailed Eddie Diaz 1-9 going into the second period and was in trouble when he scored a reversal and pinned Diaz at 3:10.
Scott Valente lost by fall to Dylan Matteo in the 170 bout and Vista had hope with the score at 27-15. Cory Woods (182) made it a one bout match as he beat Ramona’s Raul Briseno by fall in 40 seconds. Vista had the momentum and the score was 27-21.
Noe Hernandez and Anthony Martinez locked up in a close bout in the 195 pound weight class. Hernandez led 2-1 after one period and 4-2 going into the final period. Hernandez hung tough and won the bout 6-4.
Josh Allen ensured the victory in the 220 bout. The All CIF football player recorded a first period pin in 1:45 to let the county know he can wrestle too.
With the score 36-21 in the Dawgs’ favor, Trae Rodriguez recorded Ramona’s fastest pin of the match by beating Chris Harry in 1:16 in the heavyweight bout.
The match finished with the 106 bout as Brendon Cox of Vista beat Devon Parsons by fall. The final score was 42-27.
The Dawgs take on San Marcos Dec. 20 in the Dawg House. San Marcos is the third top 10 team in a row that Koch put on his schedule. San Marcos’ gym and entire school is being reconstructed so the Knights will not have a home match this year in their gym. The junior varsity and frosh will start at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity will square at 7 p.m.