Walnut Rolls Past Sierra Vista 45-21

WALNUT – The Walnut High School wrestling team swept through the first ten matches of its dual meet against the visiting Sierra Vista Dons en route to a 45-21 non league matchup Wednesday night at Walnut gym.

“We had wrestlers wrestling out of position and we paid for it tonight,” Dons Head Coach Tony Gonzalez said. “They were a more disciplined team out there, and they didn’t make too many mistakes.”

After forfeiting the 185 pound weight class, Walnut dropped the final three matches in the higher weight divisions.

“They (upper weight wrestlers Josh Abeyta, Josh Lopez and Tristen Jimenez) are young and inexperienced at this level,” Mustangs Head Coach Cecil Sabastian said. “They have been working hard in the room everyday and will get better by the end of the year.”

Four Mustang pins by Dustin Mecate, Freddie Hsiao, Michael Sills and Roger Liang  were key in giving Walnut a huge 45-0 lead before forfeiting the 185 pound weight class.  Two of the three Dons victories also came via pins by Sergio Gonzalez at the 195 pound class and Ivan Alvarado at the 220 pound class.

Sebastian looks to Kenny Oda,  Hsiao, Stan Nhan and Sill to do big things this year.  Oda scored four quick points in his match against Frankie Valverde and held on to win 4-0. Despite Henry Gonzalez closing the gap to 8-7 in the third quarter, Nhan pulled away to win 11-7.

“They boys are working very hard in the room, “Sebastian said,” but they need to get in better shape.”

“We usually don’t have matches this early in the season,” Gonzalez said,” but they (Walnut) asked if we would like to dual them, so I said yes.”

The two teams will meet again this weekend when Sierra Vista hosts an 11-way dual tournament beginning this weekend.  Local schools including Sierra Vista, Walnut, Covina, Rowland, Ganesha and Pomona are some of the schools scheduled to participate.

“We will be ready for this weekend’s tournament,” Sebastian said.

Match Summary

106 Dominick Castner (W) def Ruben Rosas (SV) 10-8

113 Dustin Mecate (W) pins Richie Nguyen (SV) :52.1 1st

120 Kenny Oda (W) def Richie Valverde(SV) 4-0

126 Freddie Hsiao (W) pins Michael Miranda (SV) :8.4 1st

132 John Long (W) wins by forfeit

138 Stan Nhan (W) def Henry Gonzalez (SV) 11-7

145 Michael Sills (W) pins Abraham Soto :19 1st

152 Rodd Goldstein (W) def Diego Sandavol (SV) 7-6

160 Roger Lian (W) pins Nathan Saldano (SV) 1:19 2nd

170 Ben Harrison (W) def Joe Torres (SV) 8-5

182 Greg Orozco (SV) wins by forfeit

195 Sergio Gonzalez (SV) pins Josh Abeyta (W) :51.8 1st

220 Ivan Alvarado (SV) pins Josh Lopez (W) 1:52 3rd

Heavyweight Issac Aguilar (SV) def Tristen Jimenez (W) 5-0