Pali High Wrestling Team Starts Strong

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Having finished second to Birmingham in the City Dual Championships in June, the Palisades High wrestling team began the season on a mission to solve the final puzzle. According to Coach Mike Lawlor, the Dolphins appear to have all the pieces they need.   

“We’ve filled some of those upper weight holes we had last year,” said Lawlor, who took over the program in 2018. “We only graduated one senior. This is our strongest team since I’ve been here, maybe ever.”     

Early results back up that claim. Palisades is 8-0 in dual meets, including an intersectional blowout of Harvard-Westlake and decisive wins against league rivals Carson and San Pedro. Last Saturday morning the Dolphins participated in a round robin tournament at Santa Monica High and finished 5-0, including a 48-33 triumph over the host school despite having to forfeit three weight classes. If and when the team gets  healthy, Lawlor expects it to contend for the title.

“We’re battling through  some tough injuries at this time, including senior captain Johnny Berrellez who is out with a broken ankle but could return for City. We’ll definitely be challenging Birmingham for the championship, particularly if we can get Johnny back and also lightweight sophomore Austin Meloche, who broke his collar bone during football season.”

   Highlighting the roster are reigning City 106-pound champion Ryan Woods, two-time City placer Richie Rosen and his brother Robbie. The lineup also features Ricardo Abrego, Charlie Addis, Derek Anwar, Kaden Cleary, Pablo Estrada, Parker Field, Ben Frizzell, Flynn Gartin, Andrew Kim, Zach Mehdizadeh, Matthew Maldonado-Cruz, Nick Raddon, Jack Steel, Jean Carlos

Rodriguez, Cole Rowland and James Van Wagenen.

    “Birmingham always seems to reload, but we certainly have the depth to do it this year. We don’t have any one ‘star’ but we do have a relentless bunch eight or nine wrestlers capable of making the City finals.”