Over and Under

Pali High Wrestling Team Takes Second Place at City Section Duals

By STEVE GALLUZZO  |  Sports Editor

The inaugural City Section Dual Championships were in 2014 and Palisades High upset top-seeded San Fernando to take first place under Coach Randy Aguirre, who died from a brain tumor the next year. The Dolphins were hoping to stage a similiar upset last Wednesday in Lake Balboa against heavily-favored Birmingham. They put forth a valiant effort, but forfeiting  three weight classes was too much ground to make up in the scoring and Palisades settled for the runner-up plaque after losing 48-30.

“We came up a couple matches short but we really have closed the gap with Birmingham,” Coach Mike Lawlor said. “I told the team after last year’s dual that it wasn’t going to happen overnight but we were going to keep chipping away. We wrestled them twice the last 10 days of the season and both times forfeits were the difference. I truly believe those matches will be the turning point for us. We’ll have our best team, maybe ever, next year. We’ll return two-time City placer Richie Rosen at 132 pounds who missed the last week of the season because he had surgery on his ear, and his brother Robbie Rosen, who also wrestled varsity at 138 for us at times this year. Freshman 170-pounder Ariav Hayempour returns next year as well.”

Freshman James Van Wagenen got the Dolphins off on the right track with a pin at 106 pounds, then fellow ninth-grader AustinMeloche earned his team another six points with a third-period pin.

With time running out, junior Matt won by fall to at 126 pounds and sophomore Ryan Woods, reigning City 106-pound champion, scored his eighth pin in eight matches this season to pad the Dolphins’ lead.

“I pinned the same guy last week too,” Woods said. “I’m focusing on finishing quicker. I don’t worry as much about taking bad shots since I’m so much more confident in my ability to recover.”

Senior captain Eric Smith-Williams used experience and stamina for a 6-4 decision at 145: “I’m incredibly proud to see my teammates blossum. Nothing’s gonna’ stop them next year. All the blood, sweat and tears will be worth it.”

Junior Charlie Addis won 10-5 at 160 pounds but the host Patriots swept the last five weight classes.