Pali High Wrestlers Sweep Four-Way Dual

He wasn’t there in body but Randy Aguirre’s presence was felt at last Thursday’s wrestling meet.

The coach’s shoes and hand sanitizer were placed on an empty chair beside the mat for Palisades High’s four-way dual with West Adams, Fremont and Dorsey and he certainly would’ve been proud of the Dolphins’ performance.

One week after Aguirre died of brain cancer, Palisades showed why it is the No. 2-ranked squad in the City Section by dropping only six points in three matches against its Coliseum League opponents.

The Dolphins took on West Adams first and won  75-6 as Jake Carpenter (106 pounds), Erik Miranda (113), Matt Au (126), Kevin Monterrubio (138), Kevin Rosen (145), Anthony Teitelbaum (152), Sam Reedy (160), Brad Boorstin (182) and Kenny Jones (285) won on pins.

“This was our first home match so we wanted to show what we can do, but winning City will be a lot tougher,” said Miranda, who moved up to 113 from 106. “We have holes at certain weights so I’ll wrestle  wherever I’m needed. At 106 I kind of work on top more but at 113 I have to rely on technique more.”

In the second round against Fremont, Carpenter, Miranda, David Rheingold, Monterrubio, Marcelo Maya, Joseph Velado, and Jones all won by fall. Au won 12-6 and Reedy scored an 11-5 decision to make the final score 78-0.

“The night before Coach passed away he told me  just go out and wrestle and be confident,” said Monterrubio, who is ranked No. 2 in the City at 138. “My mindset was one of my downfalls last year but Randy’s dad [James] texted me today and said he’ll be there in spirit.”

The Dolphins’ domination ended in an 82-0 shutout of Dorsey, which forfeited six weight classes.

“I like it but this is hard because it’s just you and the other guy,” said Marvin Williams, who joined the wrestling team after football and won his first match 10-1. “I’m working on the double leg [move].”

Jones, who got to wrestle against all three schools,  thanked Aguirre for putting Pali High’s program on the map: “I got to work on a lot of stuff today and we wanted to send a message. This was for Coach.”

Two days later, the team traveled to Covina with Principal Pam Magee and many teachers and faculty to pay their last respects at Aguirre’s funeral service. Miranda was one of the eulogists and delivered this heartfelt message at Sacred Heart Catholic Church:

It’s hard for me to see you go like this. It’s crazy how I went from seeing you run one of your intense practices to seeing you on a hospital bed in less than a week. You changed my life ever since you introduced me to your sport. I’m a different person because of you. Even though you’re gone, we’re still a team. With that said, I’ll do everything I can to finish what you’ve started. There’s no doubt in my mind that you’ll still be in our corner, this time just at a much higher view. I’ll still hear your voice when I’m out there – especially when I have the guy on his back. That’s when I hear you most. You were more than just my coach. You were like that big brother I never had. You taught me a lot – not just in wrestling but in life – and wanted nothing but to see me be successful. I’ll never forget all those long talks we had about how far you think the team and I can make it, not just in wrestling but in life. You believed in us before we even believed in ourselves. For that I thank you. Thanks for all the good times. Thanks for showing me the true meaning of hard work! Every time I step back on that mat it’ll be for you. I love you! You’ll truly be missed but you’ll never be forgotten. Rest in peace…