With all five teams in the Southwest Conference ranked in the Top 10 in the state, each week the Cerritos College wrestling team will be in for a tough match. The start of conference action got underway Wednesday night, and the Falcons, ranked #3 in the state, dropped a 31-6 decision to #7-ranked Palomar College. Cerritos will now host #9 ranked Santa Ana College at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at Excelsior HS.

 

    After the first four matches, the Falcons trailed only 7-6, but saw the Comets win the final six weights to claim the victory. In two of those matches, Cerritos dropped 3-1 decisions, with freshman Ramon Estrada (Perris HS) losing at 157 pounds, as did freshman Keith Nieves (Warren HS) at 184 pounds. Estrada, who's ranked #4 at 157 pounds, saw #6-ranked Tim Randle score a late takedown for the victory. For Nieves, who is ranked #5 in the state, he suffered the same fate against #8-ranked Matt Lewlellen.

 

    Picking up wins for Cerritos were freshman Rudy Delgado (North Torrance HS), an 11-4 winner at 141 pounds, while freshman Voris Meeks (Yucca Valley HS) posted a 10-3 win at 149 pounds. Delgado trailed, 2-1 after the first period and 4-2 after the second period, but posted a three-point near-fall after a takedown to pull away for the win. As for Meeks, he was never in danger and recorded four takedowns, with the only points he allowed coming from escapes.