The Mount San Antonio College wrestlers got manhandled Wednesday as the Falcons won all but one match in a 46-4 rout at Cerritos.

The Falcons, who are the top-ranked team in California and have seven wrestlers ranked eighth or better (five at No. 1 or 2) in the state in their weight classes, win the South Coast Conference title with a 7-0 dual meet record (8-1 overall).

Cerritos teams traditionally celebrate a conference championship in their own unique way.

After being thrown in the pool by the team, coach Greg Gascon said, “I am impressed with (the team’s) performance.

“Against the Mounties they showed me more (in this match). When I think that they are getting to beat a few of their guys, they ended up outwrestling the Mounties.”

The Falcons will go to Moorpark for the South Regional Nov. 17, followed by the State Championships in Santa Rosa Nov.30 and Dec.1.

Anthony Rodriguez of Cerritos, ranked fourth in the state in the 125-pound weight class, beat Hamilton Alverenga by technical fall.

Damacio Page, who is ranked second in state at 133 pounds, received a forfeit for the Falcons.

Falcon wrestler Josh Johnson outwrestled Phillip Espinosa in the 141-pound weight class, scoring five points in the third round to win, 9-8.

Johnson, top ranked in the state in his weight class, said that the team wrestled tough. “I think our chances for the next two matches are real good. Everybody is healthy for our next two matches.

“We need to keep working hard for our next two matches.”

Richard King of Mt. SAC, ranked second in the state at 149 pounds, got his butt whipped as he was pinned in the first round by Steve Garcia, who is ranked first.

Gabe Barragan, ranked No. 2 in the 157-pound weight class, scored a win by injury default for the Falcons over Johnny Hoong.

Eighth-ranked Andy Lopez of Cerritos was awarded a forfeit in the 165-pound weight class.

Second-ranked Andy Tufnell of Cerritos proved to be too much for eighth-ranked Richard Williamstein in the 174-pound weight class, winning by injury default.

Tad Millane won a close match from the Mounties’ Jeremy Von Mizener in the 184-pound weight class by a score of 5-0.

The Falcons’ Deron Ward pinned K. Nerio to the mat in the 197-pound weight class.

In the heavyweight division Erick Arevalo received the Mounties’ only win by way of a forfeit.

However, two points were taken away from Mt. SAC for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Ward said that the team’s performance was great. “We wrestled well. We put a good effort into winning against the Mounties.

“I think we have a state championship team, and if we wrestle to our abilities we can win.”

Coach Eric Mora said that the team wrestled tough when they needed to. “Overall it was a good performance.

“I think that we have a good chance of winning our next matches. We need to work on our intensity.”