CLOSE OUT

By Brandon Petersen

The Westcliff men's wrestling team earned a gritty 25–23 road dual victory over Victor Valley College on Tuesday night, rallying through a forfeited weight class and several tight bouts to secure one of the program's strongest early-season wins under head coach D'Rell Gist.

The Warriors trailed throughout the night but delivered when it mattered, taking five of the final seven contested matches and sealing the dual behind a major decision at 197 pounds from Juan Luquin and another at heavyweight from Armando Sandoval.

"I think it went well," Gist said. "It was a battle. Ending up winning 23 to 25 shows how close it is against a tough top-three team in the state. But the guys stepped up. We had some freshmen step up and handle business and get some big wins, so it was awesome overall." 

The highlight performance came from freshman Israel Gutierrez at 149 pounds. Returning to the lineup after missing last week due to illness, Gutierrez stunned the home crowd by pinning the No. 2–ranked wrestler in the CCCAA in the first period.

"He's a freshman," Gist said. "He was out last week sick, he came back and he knocked off the number two guy in the state and pinned him in the first period, which was pretty awesome. I tell them: take advantage of your opportunities. And he did." 

Joey Mora added a dominant tech fall at 184, Brian Geiger delivered a fall at 157, and Luquin's major at 197 swung momentum fully to the Warriors before Sandoval closed it out. Santiago Pacheco battled to a major-decision loss at 141, while Fernando Campos and Jacob Arellano also wrestled ranked opposition at 165 and 174, respectively.

"Joey Mora stepped up and got the tech. Brian Geiger stepped up and got the tech. Juan sealed the deal getting the major," Gist said. "Armando at the end capitalized on it. It took a team effort. Even the ones who lost—there were some close ones. I'm proud of all of them. Still got some work to do, but proud of where we're going."

The win comes just days before Westcliff hosts its first tournament as a program.

"It's our first home meet, so I'm excited for that," Gist said. "Excited to just let it rock. Hopefully we get some more dubs and continue to work hard regardless of the result."

If you're a Westcliff wrestling fan, now is the time to show up and show out, as the Dubs are hosting for the first time ever.

Be there, Friday, from 2 p.m. until the day ends at Golden West College in Huntington Beach.

The dual tournament will include Menlo, UC San Diego, Grand Canyon University, Snow College and Hope International.

See you there!