In the third annual Cerritos Open, the Falcons dominated the tournament on their home mat against their opponents as they won first place on January 25.
The tournament involved the East Los Angeles Husky, Bakersfield College Renegades, Moorpark College Raiders, Mt. San Antonio College Mounties, the Palomar College Comets and the Victor Valley College Rams.
The biggest surprise was the arrival was top universities to the tournament, the Westcliff University Warriors, University of Nevada Las Vegas Rebels, and Simpson University Storm, and Arizona State Sun Devils.
In the 103 weight class, Delany Nguyen dominated in her weight class by defeating Martha Han to face Darci Chiu.
Nguyen and Chiu didn’t give an itch on the mat, both battling each other for control.
Nguyen ended up with a bloody nose and blood on her teeth which didn’t phase her as she took control and beat Chiu on 13-4 points.
“I thought I was going to go up in two. I still think I could have done better. I wish I placed third instead of fourth, but we’ll get there. There’s time to work,” Nguyen said.
Han gave her thoughts on the tournament, “This is my first year in college and wrestling. I love it. It’s welcome. It’s a really nice setting. I do appreciate it. The mats are very spacious. I’ve yet gone to my first match yet, so I’m very nervous and excited.”
Nguyen on wrestling in the tournament. “I thought I was going to go up in two. I still think I could have done better. I wish I placed third instead of fourth, but we’ll get there. There’s time to work.”
In 160-weight class, Falcon Ximena Romero faced Husky Bella Arrendono with Romero being dominated from start to finish.
Romero went for Arrendono legs and got her ground. Romero got her with a reversal and chokehold winning the match for the Falcons.
“Coming in as a first-year college wrestler, I think I did pretty good. I won three out of my five matches. I think I performed pretty well,” Romero said about her performance.
Coach Dustin Kirk discussed how she felt about her team getting first place, “It was good, We’re early in this season, so it’s really just about learning what we need to do, and that way we could go back into what we call the lab or in essence the wrestling room and get better at wrestling and I think that’s the most important thing.”
“The way we’re right where we need to be when it comes April in the state championship and, you know, we could look to make a three-peat, you know, trying to win our third state championship consecutively, and so Mt. SAC is a tough team and they’re right behind us, so we’re looking forward to the challenge and I think we’re capable of it,” Kirk finished.
The Falcons now head up north to Sacramento for the Sacramento City Open on Saturday, Feb. 8.
