Bonita Wrestling Dominates Glendora

The Bonita Bearcat Wrestling Team dominated the Glendora Tartans with a 50-19 victory for the team’s first league dual* of the season.

Wrestlers ranging from the light weights to the heavies all had successful victories. Liam Barragan(106)*, Shane Lohr(132), Andre Batoon(145), Nico Dominguez(150), Giovanni Torres(160), and Karrar Kashifalghita(220) all pinned their opponent, bringing in six points each. Tyler Prejusa(122) won his match 12-0 and Nathan Ramos(189) won his match 10-2, adding an additional four points each. The last six points resulted from  the Tartans forfeit the heavyweight class.

Coach Brian Sandmark thought “Andre [had the most energetic match], he dominated in his match the whole time”

Batoon was ahead 10-0 when he pinned the other wrestler with 1:01 left in the match. His match was high energy and intense. Batoon stepped onto the mat with confidence and his energy never dropped throughout the match.

Immediately following Batoon’s match was Dominguez, who was  ahead 14-4 when he pinned the other wrestler. Dominguez came out with intensity and kept up the energy Batoon left the mat with. While wrestling, Dominguez will periodically stop and look up at his coach, waiting for instructions while still holding his opponent on the mat.

“Domination domination domination” said Dominguez. Domination is the wrestlers favorite word. Above the door in the coaches office is a sign that reads “DOMINATION”.

“I believe that if our team works as hard as we possibly can, we can win league. Its all about domination” said Batoon.

Kashifalghita pinned his opponent only six seconds into the second period, it was the fastest pin of the night. The match had little action, ending the first period with a 0-0 tie. As soon as the whistle blew to start the second period, Kashifalghita was moving and had the wrestler pinned before he even put points on the board.

“We work really hard and the intensity level is up, its not about skill or strength its who has the most heart. Who wants it the most” Kashifalghita said about the teams goal to win league this year.

This dual was the first of five league duals the team will compete in the win league championship and the boys feel prepared for the season to come.

“I definitely feel confident going forward. We had a young team last year and we struggled. This year we are much better and we have propelled forward a lot” said Edgar Favela(126).

With one victory down, the Bearcat Wrestling Team is feeling confident about the challenges ahead. The team faces Ayala High School at Bonita on January 29th in the gym.

*Dual: in wrestling, there are no games, there is individual matches in a dual.

*The number in parenthesis is the wrestlers weight class

-Alyssa Palmer