To cap off a historic career, Cerritos College
wrestler
Jose
Lopez (John Glenn HS), who won
back-to-back state championships at 285
pounds, was named the California Community College
Athletic Association (CCCAA) December Male Athlete
of the Month. Lopez, who earned a scholarship to
continue wrestling at Dickinson State (ND)
University, became just the fourth wrestler in
school history to win consecutive state
championships.
Lopez, who posted a 33-1 record this season, defeated Fresno
City College's Luis Contreras, 4-0 in the state
championship match. Over the course of the season,
Lopez won the Southern California Championship, as
well as the West Hills, Santa Ana and Modesto
Tournament championships. His only setback of the
season was a loss to Levi Cooper of Arizona State
University at the Embry Riddle Tournament.
As dominant as he was all season, Falcon head coach
Don Garriott turned to Mixed Martial
Arts star and former wrestling state champion Tito
Ortiz to work out with Lopez heading into the
post-season tournaments. Garriott coached Ortiz when
he won back-to-back state championships in 1995-96
at Golden West College.
In his two seasons with the Falcons, Lopez posted a 66-5
record, won nine tournament championships and came
in second place in three others.
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