Pali Outduals Patriots

Dolphins’ Wrestling Team Topples City Section Nemesis on Senior Night

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Ever since Mike Lawlor stepped in as head coach of Palisades High’s wrestling program back in the summer of 2018, he has guided the team towards one goal: beating Birmingham. Since he arrived, the Patriots have been the gold standard in the City Section and Lawlor has understood that the road to the title goes through Lake Balboa.

However, all that could change this season and the Dolphins sent a message to the reigning champions that this year Palisades will not go down easily. On Senior Night, the Dolphins pulled off a 48-36 upset, reversing their loss in the City Dual finals last spring and establishing themselves as frontrunners for the City Championships in February.

Despite having to forfeit the 120, 182 and heavyweight classes, the Dolphins prevailed thanks to late heroics of football players Ricardo Abrego and Tommy Cutrono, neither of whom had wrestled since middle school.

Abrego was in danger of being pinned in his bout at 195 pounds, but squirmed out of a loose hold to reverse his opponent and won by a pin moments before the first period clock expired.

“I feel really comfortable at this weight and I didn’t want to lose for my team,” said Abrego, who made the All-City defensive first team after recording 39 tackles, one sack and an interception at strong safety in the fall. “Even if you’re on your back you’re never out of it until the referee blows his whistle. As long as there’s one second left you can pull it out. I love football, but this is 100 times harder. There’s no time to rest between plays—when you’re on that mat there’s no place to hide, there’s no one to bail you out if you make a mistake. My favorite moves are the blast double, sweep single and Hi-C.”

At 5-8 and 215 pounds, Cutrono, was the smallest of the Dolphins’ offensive linemen, but he used his size to his advantage at guard and did the same in his bout at 220. He too came perilously close to losing before employing cat-like reflexes   to get his foe’s shoulders to the mat long enough for a three-count that earned the Dolphins’ final six points and clinched their victory.

“I love the physical nature of this sport and sort of instinctively used what I learned back in middle school,” said Cutrono, who pumped his fists and let out a cry to his team while his arm was raised in triumph. “I relied more on my defense, wait  ed for him to make a move and then preyed on that. I like the Hi-C and   low single. It felt great. I was really pumped up when I won.”

Other seniors recognized for their contributions to the program were Matthew Maldonado-Cruz; Richie Rosen (who won by fall in the third period at 126); Ben Frizzell; Charlie Addis (who won via first-period pin at 160); co-captain Johnny Berrelez and 138-pounder Pablo Estrada.

Helping to secure the win were junior Ryan Woods, who needed a minute to record a pin at 132; Cole Rowland, who trailed 12-5 before pinning his opponent at 170; Derek Anwar, who won by fall at 138; and James Van Wagenen who won by second-period pin at 106.

“This is the first time we’ve ever beaten them since I’ve been here,”  said Woods, who won the City 106- pound title as a freshman in 2020. “We’ve gotten closer and closer and today we finally pulled it off. It’s always good to be a little nervous before a match, but once it started I was focused on getting a pin as quickly as possible. This year I’ve  improved with my ability to get out from the bottom position and being more aggressive, which gives you a better chance of winning. We’re very excited and we know we’ll see them again down the road, so we’ll be ready. Credit to Coach for the time he puts in everyday and doing it all by himself.”

Before the varsity meet, Parker Fields and Jack Steele scored pins in their JV bouts. Lawlor praised his seniors for their effort and dedication: “These guys have been here four years with me and just as I’ve grown as a coach during that time, they’ve grown as wrestlers. They’re the reason we are where we are.”