By Joseph Ovalle
The East Los Angeles College wrestling team qualified four wrestlers, sophomores Joseph Magdaleno-Hudson, Adrian Herrera and Maury Lemons and freshman Juan Soto to the 2014 California Community College Athletic Association State Wrestling Championships.
The championships will be held at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo on Dec. 11 and 12. The four Huskies advanced to the state finals out of the Southern California Regional finals held Dec. 7 at Cerritos College.
ELAC finished in seventh place in team standings at the SoCal Regionals scoring an upset against Bakersfield College and routing West Hills College Lemoore. Cerritos College ran away with the title scoring with Mt. San Antonio College a distant second.
“I have done everything I can do to prepare them, it was up to them to perform,” ELAC Head Coach Ralph Valle said.
Magdaleno Hudson at 157-pounds, Herrera (165) and Lemons (285) advanced to the championships semifinals taking second, third and fourth places, respectively.
Consolation finalist Soto won sixth place, but was challenged by an eligible wrestler. Soto won the challenge match and qualified for the state finals.
Freshman Jonathan Mandujano (149) took seventh and was able to challenge to earn a spot to state if Johnny Callas of Cuesta beat his teammate Justin Jauregui in the fifth place match. Callas beat Mandujano earlier in the day. Jauregui forfeited the match to Callas so both he and his teammate qualified for state sending Mandujano home.
“You know it wasn’t something I saw coming until it happened and it is what it is,” Mandujano said.
Other Huskies that placedwere freshmen Johnny Robles (125) and Kevin Valdez (133) as well as sophomores William Amelong (285) taking seventh, and taking eighth were freshman and sophomore Joseph Aguila (157).
Freshman Mariaelena Hernandez (133) pinned Cuesta freshman Savannah Vento in an exhibition match.
Southern California Regional Wrestling Tournament Results
Team Scores
1 CERRITOS 164.0 points
2 MT SAC 104.0
3 PALOMAR 95.0
4 SANTA ANA 71.5
5 CUESTA 58.0
6 RIO HONDO 51.5
7 ELAC 48.5
8 BAKERSFIELD 46.5
9 WEST HILLS 16.0
SoCal Wrestlers Advancing to State Finals
125-Pound Weight Class
1. Giovanni Castillo Mt. SAC
2. Gary Howe Cerritos
3. Silverio Esparza West Hills
4. Rithcie Taira Mt. SAC
5. Marcos Velasquez Bakersfield
6. Frank Sandoval Palomar
133
1. Alberto Garcia Palomar
2. Dustin Kirk Cerritos
3. George Sakkas Cuesta
4. Arik Onsurez Bakersfield
5. Ronald Collister Santa Ana
6. Carlos Martinez Rio Hondo
141
1. Terrill Sidner Mt. SAC
2. Connor Pollock Cuesta
3.Daniel Romero Rio Hondo
4. Eric Ambriz Cerritos
5. Kevin Kelly Mt. SAC
6. Alex Collazo Santa Ana
149
1. AJ Mckee Cerritos
2. Joaquin Collister Santa Ana
3. Chris Jones Palomar
4. Jaime Jimenez Mt. SAC
5. Johnny Callas Cuesta
6. Justin Jauregui Cuesta
157
1. Keanu Tom Cerritos
2. Joseph Magdaleno-Hudson ELAC
3. Richard Miranda Santa Ana
4. John Sinclair Cuesta
5. Vincent Gomez Bakersfield
6. Bruce Valdez Palomar
165
1. Daniel Allen Rio Hondo
2. Erik Collin Palomar
3. Adrian Herrera ELAC
4. Peter Donchev Palomar
5. Joseph Else Cuesta
6. Mitchell Zachary Mt. SAC
174
1. Micah Macias Santa Ana
2. Kolton Martin Mt. SAC
3. Cesar Luna Bakersfield
4. Dylan Clarke Cerritos
5. Amir Bakhshi Cuesta
6. Juan Soto ELAC
184
1. Alex Graves Palomar
2. Max Kumashiro Cerritos
3. Nathan Rodriguez Mt. SAC
4. Raul Hernandez Santa Ana
5. Jack Robinett Cuesta
6. Anthony Martinez Rio Hondo
197
1. Jack Murphy Bakersfield
2. Jeremiah Gerl Cerritos
3. Keandre Johnson Mt. SAC
4. Oscar Martinez Cerritos
5. Brad Schwarze Palomar
6. Clayton Hartwell Cuesta
Heavyweight
1. Robert Chism Cerritos
2. Javier Gonzalez Rio Hondo
3. Jesse Gomez Cerritos
4. Maury Lemons ELAC
5. Andrew Cruz Mt. SAC
6. Jacob Hall Bakersfield