Wrestlers Dominate Coliseum League Meet

Pali High wrestler Marcelo Maya talks about winning the first league meet at Randy’s House.

Maybe the most remarkable feat of Thursday’s Coliseum League wrestling meet was achieved by Palisades High coaches Steve Cifonelli and Aldo Juliano, who managed to cram three teams, coaches, officials and spectators around a single ring inside the practice room on campus.

The facility was renovated over the summer and named “Randy’s House” in honor of former coach Randy Aguirre, who died of brain cancer last January. Glancing up at at Aguirre’s shoes displayed in a glass case above the mat inspired the Dolphins, who did their mentor proud by dominating the three-way dual against Dorsey and Bright Star.

“This was our first official competition in here and we all really wanted to do well for Randy,” said Pali High senior captain Kevin Rosen, who pinned both of his opponents inside 30 seconds at 152 pounds.

Joseph Velado set the tone in the very first match, pinning his Bright Star opponent in the first period in the 182-pound division. Matt Au recorded two pins at 145 pounds. Edwin Duarte and Luke Hansen each won by fall in the first period at that weight, Jose Contreras got an early pin at 138 pounds and Samson Dorff took an 11-1 decision against Bright Star at 132 pounds.

Chance Chapman won by second-period pin at 126, Spencer Stevenson pinned his Dorsey opponent in the first period at 170, Marcelo Maya won his first match by technical fall (22-6) and his second by early pin at 160 and Carlos Velado rebounded from an 11-7 loss to Dorsey’s Davion Stallworth to take his next match by fall at 220 pounds.

Kaila Osorio, the Dolphins’ only female wrestler, made quick work of her opponent (winning in under 30 seconds) and  Ray Watanabe provided the exclamation point to Palisades’ performance by pinning Dorsey’s Geanee Bostick in 20 seconds at 182 pounds.

The Dolphins travel to Fremont this Thursday for their last league meet against Bright Star, Diego Rivera, Dorsey, Fremont, Los Angeles and West Adams.

Palisades wrestles San Pedro next Tuesday in the opening round of the City Section dual championships and will host the City Section dual championships Saturday, Jan. 30.

— Steve Galluzzo