Frontier repels South
| Friday, Jan 23 2009 02:26 AM
Last Updated Friday, Mar 27 2009 01:34 PM
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Tim Baca of Frontier tries to break free of South's Rene Carreon in the 171-pound match, won by Baca, at Frontier Thursday night.
Frontier's Diego Oropeza scored a quick pin of South's Phillip Escalera just 22 seconds into the first round Thursday night.
South's wrestling team came to Frontier on Thursday night for a meeting of two of the SWYL's best dual-meet teams.
It quickly became apparent the host Titans were going to show everyone what depth really looks like.
Frontier won 10 of 11 matches and collected three forfeits against a good Rebels team to run its dual record to 12-0 and keep itself on a path towards wrestling's royalty.
"Not bad, not bad, not bad," Titans coach Kirk Moore said. "We're still building."
Seven Frontier wrestlers pinned their opponents, including 215-pounder Diego Oropeza in 37 seconds, 125-pounder Torrey Casper in 1:29 and 152-pounder Lance Castaneda seven seconds into the third period. At 103 pounds, Alex Gomez won by fall in 2:48 two weeks before she will wrestle in the CIF Girls Wrestling Championships.
For the Titans, though, the sparkling dual record is becoming increasingly less important. They left immediately after the match for the California Invitational Tournament in Morro Bay, where they hope one of their numerous good wrestlers can change his adjective to great.
The tournament is Frontier's second major invite this month — they had five wrestlers reach the second day at the Doc Buchanan, but none made the medal stand.
"We're going to hopefully see it this weekend," Moore said. "They've got another opportunity this weekend to finally do it. We've gotten close, but no one has put a full tournament together. Hopefully we can see some kids do it."
For South (3-2 duals), the loss was discouraging — but also a sign of what it will take to catch Frontier and perennial contender Centennial at the league tournament Feb. 14.
"We just came out very flat tonight; they didn't wrestle to their full potential," South coach Brian Henderson said. "... (Frontier) will probably win league, but I think we have the ability to give them a run."
Meanwhile, at West, another up-and-coming SWYL contender flexed its depth. Stockdale beat West 59-12 with the aid of eight forfeit victories and a technical fall by Roman Flores at 171 pounds. Flores is the Central Section's No. 3-ranked 160-pounder, according to The California Wrestler.
The Mustangs are trying to climb back into the league-title conversation after last winning the SWYL in 2004.
"The only thing that hurts us is our numbers," assistant coach Joe Espejo said. "The kids that we do have are excelling."
